National Assembly flies flag at half-mast for intelligence director killed in Kenya crash

Ecuador's National Assembly has declared three days of national mourning following the tragic deaths of Michele Sensi-Contugi, director general of the National Intelligence Center (CIES), and his wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan Vasconez. The couple perished in a helicopter crash in Kenya.

In a statement released Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the Assembly's presidency expressed its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of Sensi-Contugi and Vasconez. To honor their memory and express solidarity during this "irreparable loss," the flag at the Legislative Palace will be flown at half-mast for three days, a gesture typically reserved for national tragedies or the passing of significant figures.

The helicopter, an Eurocopter EC130 B4, crashed on Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, northern Kenya, on Wednesday morning. The aircraft was en route from Loisaba to Ewasonyiro. Kenyan authorities confirmed that seven individuals, including the pilot Josh Outram, died in the accident. Sensi-Contugi and Vasconez were among the passengers.

The Air Accident Investigation Department of Kenya's Ministry of Roads and Transport has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. As of now, the circumstances leading to the accident have not been determined. The remote and difficult-to-access location of the crash site poses challenges for the ongoing investigation.