The black box remains missing as investigators probe the Mount Ololokwe helicopter crash that claimed seven lives in Samburu County, in Kenya.
Addressing the media on August 20, Samburu Police Commander David Nkoroi said the victims were burnt beyond recognition, making DNA identification necessary.
“They were burnt beyond recognition. We have taken samples to Nairobi. We have also handed over the scene to investigators,” Nkoroi said.
He said the aircraft accident investigation team has since taken over the scene and is examining the wreckage and other evidence as part of efforts to establish the cause of the fatal crash.
The black box is expected to provide investigators with vital clues on what happened in the moments before the aircraft went down.
Investigators Search for Black Box After Mount Ololokwe Helicopter Crash
Three bodies that remained trapped in the wreckage were retrieved on August 20 when a multi-agency recovery team returned to the remote crash site.
The team, comprising police officers, Kenya Red Cross personnel, and Loisaba Conservancy members, returned to the crash site at Shabashi Hills near Mount Ololokwe to complete the recovery operation.
The remains were flown to Nanyuki and are expected to be transported to Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi for forensic examination and DNA analysis to establish the identities of the victims.
“All the remaining bodies have been recovered. Samples have been taken for forensic examination,” Nkoroi stated.
The victims are expected to be repatriated to their respective countries once the identification process is complete.
According to a witness, the pilot appeared to be searching for a suitable landing spot moments before the Mount Ololokwe Helicopter Crash.
“While the plane was crashing, people were taking videos. The pilot was looking for a place to land, but as he did so, the helicopter hit a stone and crashed,” the witness said.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Air Accident Investigation Department have been tasked with investigating the cause of the crash.
Victims Identified
The seven victims who died during the Mount Ololokwe Helicopter Crash, included Kenyan pilot and African Hailey Adventures director Josh Outram, five Americans and an Ecuadorian national.
Also among those killed were Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of Ecuador’s Strategic Intelligence Centre, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan.
Another victim was José Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of Telemundo stations in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers-Naples, Florida.
The other victims were identified as Roger Duarte, a Miami-based food entrepreneur; Henry Parra, an aviation software executive; and Adam Hlavaty, co-founder of Mrkt Group, a real estate development and branded design firm.
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