Samburu helicopter crash: Ecuador president mourns intelligence chief killed in Kenya
By Valerian Khakayi, August 20, 2026Ecuador President Daniel Noboa has mourned the death of Michele Sensi-Contugi, director general of the country’s intelligence agency, who was killed in a helicopter crash in Samburu County, Kenya.
Sensi-Contugi was among seven people who died after a helicopter carrying tourists crashed near Mount Ololokwe on Wednesday, August 19,2026.
Ecuador’s presidential office offered condolences to Sensi-Contugi’s family following his death.
The country’s Foreign Ministry said its embassy in South Africa was coordinating with Kenyan authorities and regional partners to assist with the response, as Ecuador does not have a diplomatic mission in Kenya.
“The death of (Sensi-Contugi) represents a great loss for the country,” the ministry said.
Sensi-Contugi served as the director general of Ecuador’s intelligence agency and was travelling in Kenya with his wife when the helicopter crashed.
His wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan, was also killed in the crash, according to Ecuadorian authorities.
Hollihan also killed
Hollihan was the founder and CEO of Sensi Studio, a fashion and design company, which also issued a statement mourning her death.
“Her passion for design, craftsmanship, and the people behind it shaped the brand and all of us who had the privilege of being part of her journey,” the company said.
Americans who died
Five Americans were also among those killed in the Samburu helicopter crash.
One of them was José Suárez, a senior Telemundo executive who served as president and general manager of several Telemundo-owned stations.
The US State Department confirmed the deaths of the five Americans and said the US Embassy was providing consular assistance to their families.
“The US Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance,” a State Department spokesperson said, extending condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones.
Details of the crash
The aircraft was travelling from Loisaba Wildlife Conservancy to the Ewaso Ng’iro River area when it crashed at about 9:13 a.m., according to Kenya’s civil aviation authority.
All seven people on board died in the crash, Samburu County Police Commander David Nkoroi said.
The helicopter was carrying guests on a charter flight operated by Lady Lori Helicopters for luxury tour company &Beyond.
The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC130 B4, now known as the Airbus H130, is a single-engine craft with a max speed of about 178 mph (286 kph). It can carry five to seven people and one pilot.