A tourist helicopter crash in central Kenya has killed seven people, including five Americans and Ecuador’s intelligence chief.

The helicopter crashed on Wednesday morning at Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County. At the time, it was flying from the Loisaba wildlife conservancy to the Ewaso Ngiro River area. Kenya’s civil aviation authority said the crash happened at about 9:13 a.m.

Police confirmed that all seven people on board died. The aircraft carried guests from the luxury tour agency &Beyond. Meanwhile, Lady Lori Helicopters operated the charter flight.

Among the victims were Michele Sensi-Contugi, the head of Ecuador’s intelligence agency, and his wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan. Following the crash, Ecuadorian authorities confirmed their deaths and expressed condolences to their families.

Hollihan founded and led Sensi Studio, a fashion company. In addition, the company released a statement mourning her death. It said her passion for design and craftsmanship helped shape the brand.

José Suárez, an executive with Spanish-language television company Telemundo, also died. He served as president and general manager of several Telemundo-owned stations. As a result, the company also expressed condolences following his death.

The US State Department later confirmed the deaths of five Americans. At the same time, a spokesperson said the US Embassy was working with local officials. The embassy is also providing consular assistance to the victims’ families.

However, authorities have not determined what caused the crash. Kenya’s civil aviation authority has started an investigation. Investigators will now work to establish what happened before the helicopter went down.

Meanwhile, search and recovery teams faced difficult conditions at the crash site. The Kenyan Red Cross said rough terrain and an active fire slowed the operation. In addition, it sent another team from Isiolo to support recovery efforts.

Samburu County is a popular tourist destination. The area is known for private wildlife conservancies and remote landscapes. Therefore, tourists often travel through the region on wildlife and charter trips.

The aircraft was a Eurocopter EC130 B4, now known as the Airbus H130. The single-engine helicopter can carry between five and seven passengers and one pilot. It can reach a maximum speed of about 178 miles per hour.

For now, authorities have not released further details about the crash. The investigation will examine the aircraft, flight conditions and other factors that may have contributed to the accident.