Ecuador’s National Intelligence Centre chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan were among seven people killed in a helicopter crash in Kenya’s Samburu County….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Ecuador’s National Intelligence Centre chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan were among seven people killed when a helicopter crashed in Kenya’s Samburu County, according to Kenyan authorities and the Ecuadorian government.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said a Eurocopter EC130 B4, registration 5Y-GYM, operated by Lady Lori Kenya Ltd, crashed near Mount Ololokwe on Wednesday, August 19. The aircraft was travelling from Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro with seven people on board when the accident occurred at about 9.13 a.m. local time.
The authority said the Ministry of Roads and Transport’s Air Accident Investigation Department is leading an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
The Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the accident.
The Ecuadorian Presidency confirmed the death of Sensi-Contugi and his wife in a statement issued on August 19, expressing “deep sorrow” over their deaths and extending condolences to their families and loved ones.
Sensi-Contugi was the director general of Ecuador’s National Intelligence Centre. His death comes as Ecuador continues to face security challenges linked to organised crime.
The crash occurred in the Samburu region, a popular destination for safari tourism. According to reports, all seven people aboard the helicopter died in the accident.
Kenyan authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the crash. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, while the difficult terrain around the crash site has complicated recovery and investigation efforts.
The Ecuadorian government’s condolence statement described Sensi-Contugi as the head of the country’s intelligence agency and named his wife as Stephany Hollihan.
The other victims included US citizens, according to reports. The US State Department said it was providing consular assistance to families following the crash.
The accident has prompted investigations by Kenyan aviation authorities, with officials yet to establish what caused the helicopter to go down.
