Ecuador’s intelligence chief and his wife were killed in a helicopter crash in Kenya on Wednesday.
Five Americans were also killed in the crash, a US State Department spokesperson has confirmed.
Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan were among the seven people killed when the accident happened in Samburu county at approximately 09:13 local time (06:13 GMT).
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the helicopter was on a scenic flight from a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro, a river that flows along several national reserves.
“The National Government expresses its most heartfelt condolences over the sensitive passing of Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan,” Ecuador’s presidential office said in a statement on X.
Former President of Ecuador Guillermo Lasso paid tribute to the pair on social media, saying: “My solidarity and closeness to their family members, friends, and colleagues in these moments of profound grief.
“May God grant them consolation and strength, and may the victims rest in peace.”
Sensi-Contugi, 44, was named director general of the strategic intelligence center of Ecuador in 2024
The identities of the five Americans have not yet been confirmed.
The State Department said: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss.”
An image shared online shows smoke at the crash site at Mount Ololokwe.
The Kenya Red Cross has told the BBC that the area is not yet accessible, but drones are being used to assess the scene.