Ecuador intelligence chief and five Americans killed in Kenya helicopter crash
A helicopter crash in Kenya's Samburu county has resulted in the deaths of seven people, including Ecuador's intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and five American citizens. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Why it matters
The incident involves high-level international officials and highlights ongoing safety concerns regarding aviation in the region.
Image source, Kenya Red Cross/Handout via REUTERS Image caption, Rescue officials at the crash site in Samburu County
Ecuador's intelligence chief and his wife were killed in a helicopter crash in Kenya on Wednesday.
Five Americans were also killed in the crash, a US State Department spokesperson has confirmed.
Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan were among the seven people killed when the accident happened in Samburu county at approximately 09:13 local time (06:13 GMT).
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the helicopter was on a scenic flight from a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro, a river that flows along several national reserves.
"The National Government expresses its most heartfelt condolences over the sensitive passing of Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan," Ecuador's presidential office said in a statement on X.
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