Helicopter crash in Kenya leaves several dead, including Ecuador's intelligence chief

Ecuador's intelligence chief, Michele Sensi-Contugi, his wife, designer Stephany Hollihan, and five other people died this Wednesday in the accident of a helicopter carrying tourists that crashed in central Kenya, according to local authorities.

The aircraft had taken off from the Loisaba nature reserve and fell around 9:13 a.m. local time in the area of ​​Mount Ololokwe, about 250 kilometers north of Nairobi, an aeronautical source confirmed. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Images posted on the social network X showed the remains of the device engulfed in flames and a dense column of black smoke rising from the base of the mountain.

"Operations have been suspended until tomorrow due to darkness and the complexity of the terrain," explained David Nkoroi, police chief of the Samburu region, the scene of the incident. The fire and the relief complicated the initial rescue efforts.

"Today is a very sad and painful day. There are moments when words are not enough to understand or explain such an unexpected loss," the Ecuadorian vice president, María José Pinto, expressed in X. The Government of Ecuador decreed three days of national mourning.

In total, six passengers and the pilot were traveling in the helicopter. The US State Department stated that five of the occupants were US nationals. Likewise, the Telemundo network confirmed the death of one of its senior managers in Florida, José Alberto Suárez, who was traveling on board.

Noboa's trusted man

Sensi-Contugi, 44 years old and of Italian and Ecuadorian descent, led national intelligence and was part of President Daniel Noboa's closest circle. Before his time in public service (where he also temporarily served as Government Minister) he worked as a textile businessman.

His wife, Stephany Hollihan (42 years old), maintained a close friendship with the first lady, Lavinia Valbonesi, and was godmother to one of the presidential couple's children.

"I also accompany Daniel and Lavinia in this very painful moment," the Minister of Infrastructure, Roberto Luque, wrote in X.

After the incident, the Executive appointed Luis Carlos Ávila by decree as the new director of intelligence in charge.

Mount Ololokwe, with an altitude of 2,000 meters, is a sacred site for the Samburu community and a popular tourist destination where various companies operate scenic flights. In March, a similar helicopter crash in western Kenya killed six people, including a parliamentarian.