Ecuador declares three days of national mourning for intelligence chief killed in Kenya crash

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared three days of national mourning after the director of the National Intelligence Center (CNI), Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan, died in a helicopter accident in Kenya. The decree, signed while Noboa was on an official visit to China, mandates that flags fly at half-mast and that state funeral arrangements be coordinated for the couple.

The helicopter, an Eurocopter EC130 B4, crashed at 9:13 a.m. local time in Samburu County, near Mount Ololokwe, killing all seven people on board, including the pilot. The aircraft was en route from Loisaba to Ewasonyiro. Kenyan rescue teams, aided by drones, worked in the remote and difficult terrain to access the crash site. Kenyan aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Among the other victims was José Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of three Telemundo television stations in Florida. Sensi-Contugi, 44, was a close confidant and personal friend of President Noboa, having led the CNI since January 2024. He had previously served briefly at the Ministry of Government.

In his decree, Noboa recognized Sensi-Contugi's service to the state, citing his "commitment, dedication, and profound sense of responsibility" in defending national interests. While Noboa has not yet commented on official social media, the Vice President and other government officials have expressed their condolences. Luis Carlos Ávila has been appointed as the acting director of the CNI to maintain the operational continuity of the country's intelligence system.

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commitment, dedication, and profound sense of responsibility