Ecuador’s intelligence director, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan, have died after a helicopter carrying seven people crashed in central Kenya.
The 44-year-old intelligence official and his 42-year-old wife were travelling with four other tourists and the pilot when the aircraft went down near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County at about 9:13 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the United States Department of State confirmed that five of those killed were American citizens.
Reuters also reported that Hollihan held US nationality.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the Eurocopter EC130 B4 was conducting a sightseeing trip from a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba towards Ewaso Nyiro, a river bordering several protected areas.
Mount Ololokwe and the wider Samburu region attract tourists because of their dramatic scenery and numerous private wildlife reserves.
Photographs from the location showed thick smoke rising from the forested mountainside as Kenya Red Cross personnel moved towards the burning helicopter.
Sensi-Contugi was appointed head of Ecuador’s Centre for Strategic Intelligence, CIES, by President Daniel Noboa in January 2024.
Before taking charge of the agency, he had spent four months serving as a government minister.
The Italian-Ecuadorian businessman was regarded as a trusted associate of Noboa and had maintained a close relationship with the president before joining his administration.
Noboa announced three days of national mourning beginning Thursday, while Ecuador’s presidency and National Assembly expressed sorrow over the deaths.
Hollihan, a prominent designer based in Guayaquil, founded Sensi Studio, a fashion label recognised for blending Ecuadorian cultural influences with locally inspired materials and craftsmanship.
Lady Lori Helicopters, the company responsible for the aircraft, said it was devastated by the incident and extended condolences to the victims’ relatives, the crew and everyone affected by the tragedy.
Among those killed was NBCUniversal journalist José Alberto Suárez, according to a company memorandum obtained by CBS News.
NBCUniversal described him as a respected professional, mentor and colleague.
US and local media also identified Miami restaurant owner Roger Duarte as another victim.
US Congressman Carlos Antonio Gimenez offered condolences to the families of those who died.
Authorities have yet to release the identities of the remaining victims.
Kenya has experienced several fatal helicopter accidents in recent years.
In February, six people, including a member of parliament, died when a helicopter crashed in Nandi County.
In 2024, Kenya’s military commander, General Francis Omondi Ogolla, was killed alongside nine others when an army aircraft came down in the western part of the country.
Two occupants survived.
Another military helicopter accident in June 2021 claimed the lives of at least 10 soldiers during a landing operation near Nairobi.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong