Kenya tourist helicopter crash kills 7, including Americans and Ecuador security chief

NAIROBI, Aug 19 (Reuters) - ‌Seven people, ​including ​five Americans and Ecuador's intelligence head, were killed on Wednesday when the tourist helicopter they ‌were flying in crashed in Kenya's Samburu county.

The ⁠aircraft was flying to the Loisaba Conservancy, a wildlife reserve ‌and safari destination in ‌northern Kenya, when it crashed, according to a preliminary report from Archers Post police station seen by ​Reuters.

All seven people - six passengers and one pilot - were killed, authorities said.

A State Department spokesperson said ⁠five Americans were among the dead, while Ecuador's presidential office confirmed intelligence ​head Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan - who held U.S. citizenship - were also killed.

"The ​U.S. Embassy is in touch ‌with local authorities and is providing consular assistance," the State Department said.

The preliminary police ⁠report listed Sensi-Contugi and his wife as tourists.

Luxury tour agency &Beyond, which offered the excursion the tourists were on, said ⁠in a statement that the cause of the crash was ​yet to be determined.

The Kenya Red Cross said that search and recovery efforts were being hampered by difficult terrain and a ‌fire at the crash site.

(Reporting by Humphrey Malalo, Vincent Mumo Nzilani and Ammu ‌Kannampilly in Nairobi, Elias Biryabarema in Kampala and Nilutpal ⁠Timsina in Johannesburg; Additional ‌reporting by Alexandra ​Valencia in Quito; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Alexander Winning, Alex Richardson and Alistair ‌Bell)

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