Josh Outram, the pilot who founded Africa Heli Adventures, was among seven people killed when a helicopter crashed on Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County.
The fatal accident happened at about 9:13am on Wednesday, August 19, while the Eurocopter EC130 B4 was flying over the rugged northern Kenya landscape.
Outram was at the controls of the helicopter, which was carrying five Americans and Ecuadorian intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi. Sensi-Contugi was travelling with his wife, Stephany Maria Hollihan Vasconez, who was also among those who died.
The other victims were identified as José Alberto Suárez, Roger Edward Duarte, Adam Martin Hlavaty and Henry Parra.
Outram was remembered for his deep passion for aviation and Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes. He founded Africa Heli Adventures, a company offering helicopter experiences over some of the country’s most scenic and remote destinations.
His love for flying was more than a career. It became the foundation of a business that gave visitors an aerial view of Kenya’s vast savannahs and northern landscapes.
Following the crash, photos of Outram were shared on social media alongside a video showing the aircraft’s flight path before communication with the helicopter was lost.
The cause of the crash had not been officially confirmed at the time of reporting. The accident has nevertheless left Kenya’s aviation and adventure tourism communities mourning the loss of a pilot who had dedicated his life to the skies.