TELEmUNDO EXECUTIVE AMONG 7 KILLED IN HORRIFIC KENYA HELICOPTER CRASH
TELEmUNDO EXECUTIVE AMONG 7 KILLED IN HORRIFIC KENYA HELICOPTER CRASH
SAMBURU COUNTY, KENYA — A helicopter carrying tourists on a safari in northern Kenya crashed Wednesday morning, killing all seven people aboard, including longtime Telemundo executive José Alberto Suárez, authorities said.
The tragedy occurred around 9:13 a.m. near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County as the helicopter was traveling from the Loisaba Conservancy toward the Ewaso Nyiro area.
The aircraft was carrying six passengers and one pilot. Five of those killed were U.S. citizens, according to the U.S. State Department.
A RESPECTED TELEMUNDO LEADER
Suárez, 55, was president and general manager of several Telemundo-owned stations, including outlets serving Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers-Naples.
He spent nearly two decades with Telemundo and NBCUniversal, building a career that began in television journalism before he moved into senior leadership roles.
Colleagues remembered him as an energetic and compassionate leader who cared deeply about his employees and the communities served by the stations.
NBCUniversal executives said they were “heartbroken” by his death and praised the impact he had on colleagues throughout his career.
SEVEN PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES
Among the other victims were Michele Sensi-Contugi, Ecuador’s intelligence director general, and his American wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez.
Miami businessman Roger Duarte and several other passengers were also killed. The pilot, Josh Outram, died as well.
The crash occurred in a remote and difficult-to-access area.
Rescue and recovery efforts were complicated by rugged terrain and a fire at the crash site, according to authorities and the Kenya Red Cross.
A SAFARI FLIGHT THAT ENDED IN TRAGEDY
The helicopter was operated by Lady Lori Helicopters and was carrying guests associated with luxury safari company &Beyond.
The aircraft was en route to the Ewaso Nyiro area when it went down near the foothills of Mount Ololokwe.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation, while the country’s Air Accident Investigation Department is examining the circumstances surrounding the deadly flight.
FAMILIES NOW FACE AN UNIMAGINABLE LOSS
For Suárez’s colleagues and loved ones, the crash represents the sudden loss of a man who spent decades building a career in television and mentoring people across the industry.
For the families of all seven victims, the tragedy has transformed what was expected to be a safari journey into a devastating goodbye.
Authorities continue to investigate what caused the helicopter to crash.
Seven people boarded the aircraft. None survived. Among them was a respected Telemundo executive whose career had touched newsrooms and television stations across the United States.
