Ecuador intelligence chief and five Americans killed in Kenya helicopter crash

What the report says

Ecuador’s intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan, were among seven people killed when a helicopter crashed in Samburu County, Kenya, near Mount Ololokwe, according to Nile Post’s report. The victims included six tourists and the pilot. The crash occurred around 09:13 local time on Wednesday, and rescue images showed smoke and wreckage at the wooded site as responders moved in.

The article says the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the aircraft was on a scenic flight between a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba and Ewaso Nyiro. Lady Lori Helicopters, which operated the Eurocopter EC130 B4, said it was deeply saddened by the accident. Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa appointed Sensi-Contugi to lead the country’s Centre of Strategic Intelligence in January 2024 and has since declared three days of national mourning, while Ecuador’s presidency and National Assembly offered condolences.

Nile Post reported that five of the dead were Americans, citing a US State Department spokesperson, and that Hollihan also held US citizenship. The article also said NBCUniversal journalist José Alberto Suárez and Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte were among the US victims identified by other media. The crash highlights ongoing safety concerns around helicopter operations in Kenya, where fatal accidents have occurred in recent years, including incidents involving civilians and military aircraft.