Five Americans, Ecuador intelligence chief killed in helicopter crash in Kenya

Ecuador’s intelligence chief and five American citizens died in a helicopter crash in Kenya on Wednesday.

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The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the helicopter was travelling from the Loisaba wildlife conservancy to the Ewaso Ngiro river area when it crashed.

The accident occurred on Wednesday morning at Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, north of Nairobi, the capital.

The aviation agency also noted that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

The BBC reported that the helicopter, owned by the local company Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying guests on a tour around a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro, a river that runs through several national reserves.

All seven people aboard the helicopter, alongside the pilot, died.

The Ecuadorian intelligence director was identified as Michele Sensi-Contugi. His wife, an Ecuadorian American who was also aboard, was identified as Stephany Hollihan.

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Ecuador confirmed he died in the helicopter crash in Kenya later on X.

The Ecuadorian presidency, in a statement on X, said, “At this moment of deep sorrow, the government extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and close associates.

The country’s foreign ministry also said its embassy in South Africa is coordinating with local authorities and allies in the region, given it does not have a diplomatic mission in Kenya.

“The death of (Sensi-Contugi) represents a great loss for the country,” the ministry said in its statement.

The US State Department also confirmed that the other five were US citizens.

“The US embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance,” it said. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss.”

It did not, however, reveal the identities of the victims.

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The Guardian, however, reported that an executive at Telemundo, the US-based Spanish-language network owned by NBCUniversal, known as Jose Suarez, was also aboard.

“We are heartbroken to learn the tragic news that José was killed in a helicopter accident in Kenya,” the NBC affiliate in Miami said.

The Kenyan Red Cross said earlier search and recovery efforts were “hampered by difficult terrain access and an active fire at the crash site,” alongside photos of smoke rising from a crash site.

“An additional team has been dispatched from Isiolo to reinforce the operation,” it said in the post on X.