4 Americans Killed in Kenya Helicopter Crash, Telemundo Exec Among Dead
A charter helicopter crashed into a Kenyan mountainside killing all seven aboard, including a Telemundo station president and an Ecuadorian intelligence chief and his wife.
Five Americans were among seven people killed when a chartered helicopter crashed in a remote part of northern Kenya, the U.S. State Department confirmed to NBC News on Wednesday.
The aircraft went down in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County at 9:13 a.m. local time, according to Kenya's Civil Aviation Authority. All six passengers and the pilot were killed, local police said.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed the American deaths and said the U.S. Embassy is providing consular assistance and coordinating with local authorities. "We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss," the spokesperson said.
The helicopter operator was identified as Lady Lori Kenya, which said in a statement that it was flying a charter from Suyian Conservancy to Mount Ololokwe. The company said it is cooperating fully with investigators.
Kenya's Red Cross said rugged terrain and a fire at the crash site hampered search and recovery efforts, prompting an additional crew to be sent from Isiolo. Video verified by NBC News showed wreckage scattered across the hillside, with parts of the aircraft still burning.
Among those killed was José Suárez, 55, president and general manager of multiple Telemundo-owned stations in Florida, according to a message from Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCUniversal's News Group. Suárez had worked across NBCUniversal for nearly 20 years, leading stations in San Antonio, Sacramento, Fresno, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.
Ecuador's National Assembly confirmed that Michele Sensi-Contugi Ycaza, director general of the country's national intelligence center, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vásconez, also died in the crash. Ecuador will fly its flag at half-staff for three days.
Miami restaurateur Roger Edward Duarte, 39, founder of the stone crab delivery company George Stone Crab, was also killed, his family said. Married South Florida couple Henry Parra and Adam Hlavaty, who wed in 2017 and were known for traveling and giving back, were also among the tourists killed while on safari.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.
