Ecuador intel chief, five Americans killed in Kenya helicopter crash
NAIROBI: Ecuador’s intelligence chief and five US citizens died when a tourist helicopter crashed in central Kenya on Wednesday, killing all seven people on board, officials said.
NAIROBI: A tourist helicopter crash in Samburu County, Kenya, on Wednesday claimed the lives of Ecuador's intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi, his wife Stephany, and five American citizens, according to officials. The aircraft, carrying seven people including one pilot and six passengers, departed from the Loisaba wildlife reserve.
Difficult terrain made rescue operations challenging, as stated by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). No survivors were reported, with Fredrick Kabunge, Ecuador's Aircraft Accident Investigation Department director, confirming the fatalities. Samburu County police chief David Nkoroi suspended operations due to darkness and the complex crash scene.
Ecuador's Transport Minister Roberto Luque confirmed Sensi-Contugi and his wife among the deceased, expressing condolences for their families. Sensi-Contugi, appointed in 2024, was a close associate of Ecuador's right-wing President Daniel Noboa. A US State Department spokesperson confirmed the five American lives lost, though their identities were not disclosed.
Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo reported that NBCUniversal senior manager Jose Alberto Suarez had perished in the crash. The helicopter was transporting tourists for a scenic flight, as stated by Kabunge. The crash site, located at Mount Ololokwe, a sacred mountain and popular hiking destination, was engulfed in black smoke, visible in a video shared on X. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by KCAA.
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