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Ecuador Intelligence Director, Telemundo Executive Die in Kenya Helicopter Crash; 7 Dead
🇲🇽 Mexico /Conflict & Security

Ecuador Intelligence Director, Telemundo Executive Die in Kenya Helicopter Crash; 7 Dead

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Ecuador's Director General of National Intelligence, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife died in a helicopter crash in Kenya.
  • The accident also killed seven others, including the pilot and a Telemundo executive.
  • Kenyan authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred in Samburu County.

Michele Sensi-Contugi, Ecuador's Director General of National Intelligence, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan, died in a helicopter crash in Kenya on Wednesday. The accident claimed the lives of seven people in total, including the pilot.

Today Michele and Stephany departed very early. I think of their family, especially their children and their parents.

— Roberto LuqueRoberto Luque, Ecuador's Minister of Transport and Public Works, expressed his grief on X.

Sources within the Ecuadorian presidency confirmed the deaths to local media outlet Ecuavisa. Several state institutions extended their condolences for the loss of the couple. Sensi-Contugi was a close associate of President Daniel Noboa, who leads a nation grappling with a severe security crisis.

José Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of three Telemundo stations in Florida, was also among the deceased. Telemundo confirmed his death in a statement, remembering Suárez as an exceptional colleague dedicated to his teams and the communities they served. Suárez, 55, had been with the company for 18 years and had previously worked as a reporter and anchor, earning several regional Emmy awards.

We are heartbroken to learn of the tragic news that José died in a helicopter accident in Kenya.

— Telemundo ExecutivesTelemundo issued a statement confirming the death of José Alberto Suárez.

The Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter crashed at 9:13 a.m. local time in Samburu County, near Mount Ololokwe, while en route between Loisaba and Ewasonyiro. The Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) is investigating the incident, and the cause remains unknown. A photograph from the Kenyan Defense Forces shows the wreckage at the crash site.

José was an exceptional colleague concerned about his teams and the communities his stations served.

— Telemundo ExecutivesTelemundo issued a statement remembering José Alberto Suárez.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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