7 Killed, Including Ecuador’s Intelligence Chief, in Kenya Helicopter Crash

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Nairobi : Seven people, including Ecuador’s intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife, have been killed in a helicopter crash in Kenya.

The other five victims were Americans, according to a US State Department spokesperson. Four have not yet been publicly identified.

Sensi-Contugi, 44, had served as director general of Ecuador’s Strategic Intelligence Center since 2024. Ecuador’s government expressed its condolences following his death.

The helicopter crashed on Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County at about 09:13 local time on Wednesday during a scenic flight from the Loisaba wildlife conservancy towards the Ewaso Nyiro River.

Among the American victims were NBCUniversal journalist José Alberto Suárez and Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte, according to US and local media.

The helicopter, operated by Lady Lori Helicopters, was an EC130 B4. Images from the crash site showed smoke rising from the wreckage as rescuers approached.

Kenyan authorities have not yet given a cause for the crash. Samburu is a popular tourist destination known for its wildlife conservancies and dramatic landscapes.

Pic Credit:  AFP | File Image - Ecuador’s intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi