All six passengers and the pilot were killed in a helicopter crash in Kenya on Wednesday.
The crash occurred Wednesday morning as the helicopter neared Mount Ololokwe in northern Kenya. The charter operator was Lady Lori Helicopters, and the guests were customers of &Beyond, a luxury safari specialist.
Five of the passengers were American; their identities have not been released. Michele Sensi-Contugi, who was the director of Ecuador's Center of Strategic Intelligence, was also onboard.
"Our deepest sympathies are with their families and loved ones," &Beyond said. "Our immediate priority is supporting the families affected and our colleagues involved in responding to this tragedy."
Local authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, &Beyond said.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that the helicopter was flying from the Loisaba wildlife conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro river when the crash occurred around 9:15 a.m. The Ewaso Nyiro is the main water source for the northern reserves of Kenya, including Samburu National Reserve. The river attracts many animals.