Ecuadorian Intelligence Officer Among Victims in Kenya Helicopter Crash

A helicopter crash in northern Kenya resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including a prominent intelligence official from Ecuador and his wife. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning as the aircraft journeyed from the Loisaba Conservancy to Ewaso Nyiro in Samburu County, stated the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. The chopper had seven occupants, comprising six passengers and one pilot.

By Wednesday evening, Samburu’s police commander, David Nkoroi, confirmed the fatalities but did not release names. However, the government of Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa announced on social media that Michele Sensi-Contugi, Director of the National Intelligence Center, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan, were among those killed. The Ecuadorian government expressed heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones during this time of profound grief.

Local reports in Kenya highlighted that the helicopter crashed in a rugged area at the base of Mount Ololokwe, a favored tourist destination. The chopper, owned by Lady Lori Helicopters, operated as a charter under &Beyond travel company. Lady Lori Helicopters mentioned in a statement that it was a charter flight when the crash happened.

Tropic Air Kenya, another safari operator, dispatched two helicopters to assist with the search and rescue mission. The Kenya Red Cross reported that its emergency response teams were part of a multi-agency effort working to reach the crash site.

The helicopter involved was identified as a Eurocopter EC130 B4 by the aviation authority. Accident rates in Kenya’s helicopter industry are rising, attributed to the thriving tourism sector relying on internal flights for reaching remote sites such as Mount Ololokwe. Earlier in February, another helicopter accident claimed the lives of six individuals in the country’s mountainous west.

The Associated Press journalist Gonzalo Solano provided additional insights from Quito, Ecuador.