Seven people, including five American citizens, were killed when a safari helicopter crashed on Wednesday morning in a remote region of northern Kenya, according to local authorities and the U.S. State Department.

The helicopter crashed at 9:13 a.m. while en route from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu county. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. All seven individuals on board, comprising six passengers and the pilot, perished.

David Nkoroi, the police commander for Samburu, confirmed the fatalities late Wednesday. The U.S. State Department announced that five of the deceased were U.S. nationals, adding that the U.S. embassy is coordinating with local officials and offering consular support to the families of the victims.

Among those killed were an executive from Telemundo, the U.S.-based Spanish-language network owned by NBC Universal, and the director of Ecuador’s national intelligence service. A local television station in Miami reported that José Suárez, 55, president and general manager of several Telemundo stations in Florida, was among the passengers.

NBC Universal and Telemundo leadership issued a statement expressing their grief, saying, "We are heartbroken to learn the tragic news that José was killed in a helicopter accident in Kenya."

The crash occurred in a rugged area near the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a well-known tourist attraction. Local media reported that the helicopter was owned by Lady Lori Helicopters, a local company, and was operating a charter flight for the travel company +Beyond.

In response to the incident, Tropic Air Kenya, another local safari operator, dispatched two of its helicopters to assist in search and rescue operations. The exact cause of the crash remains unknown as the investigation continues.

Further details regarding the identities of the remaining victims and the specific circumstances leading to the crash are expected to be released as the investigation progresses.