All seven people killed in Wednesday’s helicopter crash near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County have been recovered, bringing the search and recovery operation at the remote crash site to an end.
A multi-agency team recovered the final three bodies on Thursday, after four others had been retrieved from the wreckage shortly after the helicopter went down at Shabashi Hills near Mount Ololokwe.
Police officers, Kenya Red Cross personnel and members of Loisaba Conservancy returned to the crash site early Thursday to complete the recovery exercise.
The victims’ remains were badly burnt in the crash, leaving only a few identifiable body parts among the wreckage and scattered debris.
Samburu County Commander David Nkoroi confirmed that all seven bodies had been recovered, adding that samples had been collected to support forensic examination and identification.
"All the remaining bodies have been recovered. Samples have been taken for forensic examination," Nkoroi stated.
Following the recovery operation, the crash site was handed over to investigators who are expected to establish what caused the helicopter to go down.
"We have also handed over the scene to investigators after the recoveries," Nkoroi added.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Air Accident Investigation Department are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Among those killed was Kenyan pilot John Outram, who was also the director of African Heli Adventures.
The other victims included Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of Ecuador's Strategic Intelligence Centre, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan.
José Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of Telemundo stations in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers-Naples, Florida, was also killed in the crash.
Suárez’s death has drawn mourning from the Media Owners Association of Kenya as well as media colleagues in different parts of the world.
The other victims, identified through American media reports and police records, were Roger Duarte, a food entrepreneur based in Miami; Henry Parra, an aviation software executive; and Adam Hlavaty, co-founder of Mrkt Group, a firm involved in real estate development and branded design.
After the recovery, the remains were flown to Nanyuki and are expected to be moved to Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi, where forensic examinations and DNA identification will be carried out.
The identification process will determine the next steps for the families as arrangements are made to transport the remains to their respective countries for burial.