Ecuador intelligence chief & 5 Americans killed in crash
- BBC News
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
By Basillioh Rukanga, Thomas Mukhwana, Reporting fromin Nairobi, Henry Moore and Vanessa Buschschluter Published
August 19, 2026
Ecuador's intelligence chief and his wife have been killed in a helicopter that crashed at Mount Ololokwe in central Kenya.
Michele Sensi-Contugi, 44, and his wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan, 42, were among the group of seven people - six tourists and the pilot - killed in Samburu county at approximately 09:13 (06:13 GMT) on Wednesday.
Five of victims were Americans, a US State Department spokesperson said. The Reuters news agency reports that Hollihan also held US citizenship.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the helicopter was on a scenic flight from a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro, a river that flows along several national reserves.
Samburu county is a popular tourist destination with many private wildlife conservancies and is renowned for its stunning landscape.
Images from the scene show smoke at the wooded crash site on Mount Ololokwe, as members of the Kenya Red Cross approach the still-burning wreckage.
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa named Sensi-Contugo director of the country's Centre of Strategic Intelligence (CIES) in January 2024.
The office of the president and Ecuador's National Assembly expressed their condolences over his death and that of Hollihan.
The Italian-Ecuadorean businessman had had close links to Noboa even before he was chosen to lead the intelligence service and was considered a close ally of the president.
Shortly before being named head of the CIES, he had served for four months as a minister in his cabinet.
Noboa has declared three days of national mourning starting on Thursday.
Newspapers in Ecuador have also run obituaries of Hollihan. The Guayaquil-based designer founded Sensi Studio, a brand praised for incorporating traditional Ecuadorean elements and materials in its designs.
Lady Lori Helicopters, which operated the Eurocopter EC130 B4 aircraft, said it was "deeply saddened" by the accident.
"Our deepest sympathies are with the guests, crew, their families and loved ones, and all those affected by this tragic accident," a statement read.
According to a memo seen by the BBC's US partner CBS News, external one of the Americans killed in the crash was NBCUniversal journalist José Alberto Suárez.
In the memo, NBCUniversal called Suárez "a deeply respected leader and beloved friend and colleague.
"José was an exceptional colleague and mentor to many," the memo read.
Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte was among the Americans killed in the crash, according to local and US media.
Commenting on his death on X, US Rep Carlos Antonio Gimenez wrote: "Our prayers are with their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. May their memories be a blessing."
The other victims have not yet been identified.
Helicopter crashes are not uncommon in Kenya.
In February, a helicopter crash in the Rift Valley county of Nandi killed six people, including a member of parliament.
In 2024, the military chief, Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla, died after an army helicopter that was carrying 11 people crashed in the west of the country, with only two survivors.
In June 2021 at least 10 soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed while landing near the capital, Nairobi.
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