TELEMUNDO EXECUTIVE AMONG 7 KI//ED IN FIERY KENYA HELICOPTER CRASH
TELEMUNDO EXECUTIVE AMONG 7 KILLED IN FIERY KENYA HELICOPTER CRASH
SAMBURU COUNTY, KENYA — A luxury safari flight ended in tragedy Wednesday when a helicopter crashed in a remote area of northern Kenya, killing all seven people aboard, including longtime Telemundo executive José Alberto Suárez.
The helicopter went down at about 9:13 a.m. local time near Mount Ololokwe, in Samburu County, while traveling toward the Ewaso Nyiro area. The aircraft was carrying six passengers and a pilot.
Five of those killed were American citizens, according to the U.S. State Department.
A RESPECTED TELEMUNDO LEADER
Suárez, 55, was president and general manager of several Telemundo-owned stations in Florida, including stations serving Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers.
He spent nearly two decades working with Telemundo and NBC stations, beginning his career in television journalism before moving into senior leadership positions.
NBCUniversal executives described Suárez as an exceptional colleague and mentor who cared deeply about his employees and the communities his stations served.
His death sent shockwaves through the television industry, where colleagues remembered him not only for his professional accomplishments but also for his warmth and leadership.
SEVEN PEOPLE DID NOT SURVIVE
The other victims included Michele Sensi-Contugi, Ecuador’s intelligence agency director general, and his wife, Stephany Maria Hollihan Vasconez, who was a U.S. dual citizen.
Also killed were Miami businessman Roger Edward Duarte, Adam Hlavaty, Henry Parra and pilot Josh Outram.
Duarte was a Miami entrepreneur and father of two who founded businesses including George Stone Crab and My Ceviche.
The families of the victims described the loss as impossible to comprehend and said there were no words to express the depth of their grief.
A SAFARI JOURNEY TURNS DEADLY
The helicopter was operated by Lady Lori Helicopters and was carrying guests connected with luxury safari company &Beyond.
The flight was traveling from the Loisaba Conservancy toward the Ewaso Nyiro area when it crashed near the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular destination for visitors exploring Kenya’s wilderness.
The crash occurred in rugged terrain, and rescue and recovery operations were complicated by difficult access and a fire at the crash site.
THE CAUSE IS STILL UNKNOWN
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the helicopter to crash.
Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority said an investigation was underway, with the country’s aviation investigators examining the circumstances surrounding the fatal flight.
At this stage, there is no confirmed indication that mechanical failure, weather or any other specific factor caused the crash.
A SUDDEN LOSS FELT FAR BEYOND KENYA
For Suárez’s colleagues, the tragedy represents the loss of a veteran television leader whose career spanned decades and multiple markets.
For the families of all seven victims, it is the sudden end of lives that were supposed to continue far beyond a safari trip in Kenya.
Seven people boarded the helicopter. Seven lives were lost in the crash.
Among them was José Alberto Suárez — a respected Telemundo executive, mentor and colleague whose sudden death has left the television community mourning while investigators work to determine exactly what went wrong.
