CNN: Ecuador intelligence chief dies in helicopter crash during Kenya tour

Five Americans and the head of Ecuador’s intelligence agency were among seven people killed after a helicopter carrying tourists crashed in central Kenya on August 19, CNN reports.

The helicopter was flying from the Loisaba wildlife conservancy toward the Ewaso Ngiro river area when it crashed at around 9:13 a.m. at Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, north of the capital, Nairobi, according to Kenya’s civil aviation authority.

All seven people aboard the aircraft died in the crash, Samburu County Police Commander David Nkoroi told reporters.

The helicopter was carrying guests of luxury tour operator &Beyond on a charter flight, according to the aircraft’s operator, Lady Lori Helicopters.

Among those killed were Michele Sensi-Contugi, director general of Ecuador’s intelligence agency, and his wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan.

The cause of the crash remains unknown, while an investigation into the incident is underway, Kenya’s civil aviation agency said.

Ecuador’s presidential office expressed condolences to Sensi-Contugi’s family in a post on X.

El Gobierno Nacional expresa sus más sentidas condolencias ante el sensible fallecimiento de Michele Sensi-Contugi y su esposa Stephany Hollihan. Paz en su tumba. pic.twitter.com/mtqweqYOBM

— Presidencia Ecuador 🇪🇨 (@Presidencia_Ec) August 19, 2026

Meanwhile, Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry said its embassy in South Africa is coordinating with Kenyan authorities and regional allies, as Ecuador does not have a diplomatic mission in Kenya.

By Jeyhun Aghazada