A helicopter crash in Kenya’s Samburu county resulted in seven fatalities on Wednesday. Among those killed was Michele Sensi-Contugi, 44, who served as director general of Ecuador’s Strategic Intelligence Center, along with his wife Stephany Hollihan. Five American citizens also perished in the accident.
The Eurocopter EC130 B4 aircraft was operating a scenic flight from Loisaba, a wildlife conservancy, to Ewaso Nyiro, a river that winds through several national reserves in the region. The crash occurred at approximately 09:13 local time on Mount Ololokwe. Samburu county, located in northern Kenya, is a popular tourist destination known for its private wildlife conservancies and landscape features.
Among the American victims identified were José Alberto Suárez, a journalist with NBCUniversal, and Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte. NBCUniversal released a statement describing Suárez as a respected leader and mentor to colleagues. The identities of the four other American victims have not yet been disclosed.
Ecuador’s government expressed condolences following Sensi-Contugi’s death, with the president’s office issuing formal tributes. Former President Guillermo Lasso also acknowledged the loss. Lady Lori Helicopters, the aircraft operator, released a statement expressing sadness over the incident and extending sympathies to all affected parties.
Helicopter incidents have occurred with regularity in Kenya in recent years. In February, a helicopter crash in Nandi county killed six people including a parliamentary member. A 2024 military helicopter crash claimed the life of the country’s military chief, Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla, with only two survivors among 11 people aboard. Additionally, at least ten soldiers died in a helicopter crash near Nairobi in June 2021.
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