The head of Ecuador's intelligence and five American citizens died on Wednesday morning in a sightseeing helicopter crash in central Kenya; all seven people onboard, including the pilot, perished.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) stated that the helicopter had taken off from the 'Loisaba Wildlife Conservancy' and crashed in Samburu County, north of the capital Nairobi.
Samburu County Police Chief Nkoroi said that rescue operations were suspended due to darkness and the difficult terrain at the crash site, and will resume tomorrow.
Ecuadorian intelligence chief Sensi Contugi and his American wife Stephanie died in this accident. According to a preliminary police report, Sensi Contugi and his wife were traveling as tourists at the time.
42-year-old Sensi Contugi was previously a businessman and was appointed the director of Ecuador's National Intelligence Center in 2024. He had close ties with Ecuador's right-wing President Noboa. Noboa's government is developing close cooperation with the United States to assist Washington in renewed efforts to combat drug trafficking groups.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed that five American citizens died in the accident, but their identities were not disclosed. However, Spanish-language news channel Telemundo reported that its Florida-based senior executive, Jose Suarez, was also among the victims.