Kenya Pledges Swift Probe Into Helicopter Crash That Killed Ecuador Intelligence Chief

Kenya has pledged to expedite investigations into the helicopter crash that killed Ecuador’s intelligence chief, Michele Sensi-Contugi Ycaza, and his wife, Stephany María Hollihan.

Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei made the commitment during a call with Ecuador’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alejandro Davalos on Saturday. He said Kenya would “work round the clock” to complete the preliminary inquiry and assist with the repatriation of the victims’ remains.

The crash occurred on Wednesday as the couple travelled on a scenic flight from Loisaba Conservancy towards the Ewaso Nyiro River in Samburu County. The Eurocopter EC130 B4 was destroyed on impact and by a fire that broke out after the crash, leaving investigators with limited physical evidence.

Kenya’s Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) is leading the investigation, with support from experts from the United States and France. The inquiry has been complicated by the absence of a flight data recorder, as the helicopter was not fitted with a black box under current civil aviation regulations, according to AAID Director Fred Kabunge.

Investigators are examining several possible factors, including the pilot’s competency, human factors, the aircraft’s certification and whether passenger limits were observed. The pilot, Josh Outram, was an experienced aviator with longstanding links to Kenya’s conservation sector. 

The other victims were senior Telemundo executive José Suárez and Miami-based businessmen Roger Duarte, Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra. Post-mortems on four of the victims were completed at Lee Funeral Home on Friday. 

Recovery teams have continued searching the crash site for aircraft components that could help establish what happened in the final moments of the flight.

Kenya has said a preliminary report is expected within 30 days. The timeline reflects the need to complete the initial investigation while examining the evidence available from the remote crash site.

Sensi-Contugi, an Italian-Ecuadorian businessman, was serving as Director General of Ecuador’s National Intelligence Centre (CIES) when he died. His death represents a significant loss for Ecuador’s intelligence service and has made the investigation a matter of diplomatic importance between the two countries.

Kenya and Ecuador are working together on the investigation and arrangements for the repatriation of the victims’ remains. The involvement of international experts is expected to support the examination of the crash and the circumstances surrounding it.

The accident has also raised broader questions about helicopter safety in Kenya, where several aviation accidents have occurred in recent years.