World

Head of Ecuadorian intelligence dies in helicopter accident in Kenya

Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife died in an air accident in Samburu, Kenya. The helicopter crash also claimed five additional lives, according to local reports.

20 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Head of Ecuadorian intelligence dies in helicopter accident in Kenya — Archive photoPhoto: Galería de fotografías del Ministerio de Defensa · Flickr · BY

Michele Sensi-Contugi, the director of intelligence for Ecuador, and his wife died in a helicopter accident in Kenya. The incident occurred in Samburu County, where the helicopter crashed in a wooded area while flying between Loisaba Nature Reserve and Ewaso Nyiro.

The accident took place at 09:13 local time, and in addition to Sensi-Contugi and his wife, five other people also lost their lives in the disaster, as reported by La Nación.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has confirmed that the helicopter involved was a Eurocopter EC130 B4. Kenyan authorities have launched an investigation to determine the causes of the accident.

The tragedy has shocked Ecuador, where Sensi-Contugi was a prominent figure in national security. His career included several positions related to intelligence in the country.

According to reports, Michele Sensi-Contugi was traveling in Kenya with his wife when the accident occurred. No further details about the circumstances of the crash have been released as of now.

The news has been covered by several media outlets, including Infobae and El Comercio, which have highlighted the severity of the accident in the context of aviation in the region.

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