Ecuador’s intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife, Stephany Hollihan, have been killed in a helicopter crash in Kenya that claimed the lives of seven people.
The accident occurred at about 09:13 local time on Wednesday in Samburu County, a popular tourist destination known for its wildlife conservancies and dramatic landscapes.
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the Eurocopter EC130 B4 was conducting a scenic flight from the Loisaba wildlife conservancy to Ewaso Nyiro, a river that runs along several national reserves, when it crashed on Mount Ololokwe.
Images from the crash site showed smoke rising from the wooded area as Kenya Red Cross responders approached the still-burning wreckage.
Sensi-Contugi, 44, had served as director general of Ecuador’s Strategic Intelligence Center since 2024. Ecuadorian authorities have not yet released details about the circumstances surrounding his death, but the president’s office led tributes following the tragedy.
Former Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso also confirmed the death of the intelligence chief.
The helicopter operator, Lady Lori Helicopters, expressed condolences to the victims’ families, saying it was “deeply saddened” by the accident.
The five other people killed were American nationals, according to a US State Department spokesperson.
Among them was José Alberto Suárez, an NBCUniversal journalist, according to a memo cited by CBS News. NBCUniversal described Suárez as a respected leader, mentor and colleague.
Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte was also identified among the American victims by US and local media.
US Congressman Carlos Antonio Gimenez paid tribute to Duarte, saying, “Our prayers are with their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
The identities of the remaining four American victims have not yet been released.
Initial reports had indicated that six tourists and a pilot were aboard the helicopter.
The crash adds to a series of fatal helicopter accidents recorded in Kenya in recent years. In February, six people, including a Member of Parliament, were killed when a helicopter crashed in Nandi County.
In 2024, Kenya’s military chief, General Francis Omondi Ogolla, was among 10 people killed when an army helicopter crashed in the west of the country. Two people survived that accident.
At least 10 soldiers were also killed in a helicopter crash near Nairobi in June 2021.
Kenyan authorities are expected to investigate the latest accident to establish the circumstances that led to the crash.
