GM of Telemundo stations in Florida among 5 Americans killed in Kenya helicopter crash

Five Americans were among seven people killed when the helicopter they were flying in crashed in a remote part of northern Kenya, according to local police and U.S. State Department.

Among the dead were José Alberto Suárez, the executive with Telemundo, the U.S.-based Spanish-language network owned by NBC Universal, and the director of Ecuador’s national intelligence service.

The aircraft crashed at 9:13 a.m. while flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, which said in a statement that an investigation was underway.

Initial reports indicated four Americans were among those killed.

The death of José Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of Telemundo Orlando, Telemundo Tampa, and Telemundo Ft. Myers–Naples, was confirmed by the NBCU News Group.

In a joint statement, NBCU News Group Chairman Cesar Conde, NBCU Local Chairman Valari Staab and Telemundo Station Group President Jose Cancela said they were heartbroken to learn of his death.

“José was an exceptional colleague who cared deeply about his teams, the communities they served and the important role our stations play in people’s lives,” the statement said. “He brought energy, humor, warmth and a strong sense of purpose to his work, and his impact was felt far beyond the stations he led. Our hearts are with his loved ones, and with all of José’s colleagues and friends who are grieving this terrible loss.”

The director general of Ecuador’s national intelligence center, Michele Sensi-Contugi, died along with his wife Stephany Hollihan, according to the country’s president’s office, which offered condolences in a social media post. 

The U.S. State Department said it was in touch with local authorities and the U.S. Embassy is providing consular assistance.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss,” a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said in a statement to NBC News. The agency declined to comment further, citing privacy concerns.

The helicopter crashed in a rugged area in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination in the country, local media reported. The helicopter, owned by local company Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying guests with travel company &Beyond. Lady Lori Helicopters said in a statement that the aircraft was operating a charter flight when it crashed.

Tropic Air Kenya, a local safari operator, said in a statement that it dispatched two of its helicopters to aid search and rescue operations.

The aviation authority said that the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC130 B4.

The Kenya Red Cross said that its emergency response teams were “participating in a multiagency response effort as rescue teams work to access the crash site.”

Helicopter crashes have happened with increasing regularity in Kenya, which has a vibrant tourism industry that depends on domestic carriers to ferry visitors to distant places like Mount Ololokwe.

In February, a legislator was among six people who died after a helicopter crash in a hilly area of western Kenya.

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