SAMBURU — The bodies of seven people who died in the Mt Ololokwe helicopter crash will undergo DNA testing after recovery teams retrieved all the remains from the wreckage on Thursday.
Samburu County Police Commander David Nkoroi said some of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition, prompting authorities to send samples to Nairobi for identification.
“They were burnt beyond recognition. We have taken samples of those bodies to Nairobi for further examination,” Nkoroi said.
He added that the crash site had been handed over to aircraft accident investigators, who will continue examining the wreckage and other evidence to establish what caused the fatal accident.
The seven bodies have been taken to Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi as authorities await identification through DNA analysis.
The recovery operation began at about 9am on Thursday, when a multi-agency team travelled to Mt Ololokwe to retrieve three bodies that had remained trapped inside the wreckage.
The helicopter was extensively destroyed on impact, leaving pieces of the aircraft and passengers’ personal belongings scattered around the crash site.
Investigators have since taken over the scene and are also searching for the helicopter’s black box, which could provide crucial flight data and cockpit recordings from the moments before the crash.
The helicopter crashed on Wednesday while carrying six tourists and Kenyan pilot Josh Outram.
The tourists had travelled from Suiyan in Loisaba Conservancy, Laikipia County, to Mt Ololokwe, one of Samburu’s well-known tourist attractions.
The visitors were reportedly taking photographs and recording videos from the helicopter while viewing the mountain and surrounding Samburu landscape.
Among those killed were Michele Sensi-Contugi, Ecuador’s intelligence chief, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan Yeaza, who held Ecuadorian and American citizenship.
Ecuadorian media reported that Sensi-Contugi served as the country’s Minister of the Interior between April and August 2024 before becoming director of the National Intelligence Centre. He was also reported to have been a close confidant of President Daniel Noboa.
The other victims were Roger Edward Duarte, José Alberto Suárez, Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra.
Local tour guides and porters who witnessed the final moments of the flight said the helicopter circled the rocky summit several times before landing at a spot frequently visited by tourists.
The aircraft was operated by Lady Lori, a chartered helicopter company. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority identified it as a Eurocopter EC130 B4, registration 5Y-GYM.
Tour guides operating in the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy said Mt Ololokwe attracts visitors seeking sunrise and sunset views as well as panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
The wider Samburu region is also known for its high-end tourism facilities and remote luxury lodges that attract visitors from around the world.
The aircraft accident investigation team will now continue examining the wreckage and other evidence as authorities work to establish the circumstances and cause of the crash.
