Ecuador intelligence chief Michele, wife among 7 killed in Samburu chopper crash
Five of the victims were American nationals, according to a US State Department spokesperson, while the group also included the Ecuadorian couple and a Kenyan pilot.
Ecuador’s intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez, were among seven people killed when a helicopter crashed at Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County today morning, Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
The Eurocopter EC130 B4, registration 5Y-GYM and operated by Lady Lori Kenya Ltd, crashed at about 9:13 a.m. while flying from Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
All seven people on board died in the accident.
Five of the victims were American nationals, according to a US State Department spokesperson, while the group also included the Ecuadorian couple and a Kenyan pilot.
Sensi-Contugi was the Director General of Ecuador’s National Intelligence Centre, formerly known as the Strategic Intelligence Centre (CIES), placing him at the centre of the country’s national security establishment.
Ecuador’s presidential office confirmed his death alongside that of his wife, extending condolences to their families.
“It’s hard to find the words when you’re still in disbelief over news of a tragedy like this,” Ecuadorian Transport Minister Roberto Luque said in a statement. “Today, Michele and Stephany left us far too soon.”
Former Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso also paid tribute to the couple, expressing solidarity with their relatives, friends and colleagues.
Sensi-Contugi was appointed head of CIES by President Daniel Noboa in January 2024. He briefly served as Ecuador’s Minister of Government later that year before returning to the intelligence agency, where his appointment was subsequently ratified.
Born in Italy in 1982 to an Italian father and Ecuadorian mother, Sensi-Contugi held Italian and Ecuadorian nationality.
Ecuadorian media described Hollihan as a fashion designer and businesswoman and said the couple were close associates of President Noboa and First Lady Lavinia Valbonesi.
According to Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo, Sensi-Contugi had previously been involved in several businesses, including Senco, a manufacturer of rubber and plastic products, as well as SensiStudio and Prolab-biotechnology.
The crash occurred in rugged terrain around Mt Ololokwe, complicating rescue and recovery operations. An active fire at the site also hampered efforts by emergency teams to reach the wreckage.
The Kenya Red Cross Society said responders were facing difficult access conditions as they worked to establish the full circumstances of the crash. An additional response team was dispatched from Isiolo to reinforce teams already at the scene.
“The search and recovery efforts are ongoing, hampered by difficult terrain access and an active fire at the crash site,” the Kenya Red Cross said.
The Ministry of Roads and Transport’s Air Accident Investigation Department is leading investigations into the crash, with KCAA coordinating with other agencies.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight path, weather conditions, communications and other factors as they seek to establish what caused the helicopter to crash.
The cause of the accident had not been established by this evening.
