A tragic helicopter crash in a remote region of northern Kenya has claimed the lives of all seven people on board, including five American citizens. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning as the aircraft was traveling from the Loisaba Conservancy toward the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County.
The U.S. State Department confirmed the deaths of the five Americans, stating that the U.S. Embassy is currently in contact with local authorities to provide necessary consular assistance. In an official statement, a spokesperson expressed deep condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the loss.
Among those identified in the tragedy are NBCUniversal executive José Alberto Suárez, who served as president and general manager of Telemundo 31, Telemundo 49, and Telemundo Fort Myers–Naples. The company remembered him as a deeply respected leader, mentor, and friend who was dedicated to his teams and the communities they served. Also confirmed dead was Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte, whose family expressed their profound grief and requested privacy during this difficult time.
Ecuador’s transport minister, Roberto Luque, confirmed that the nation’s intelligence chief, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife, Stephany Holliham Yeaza, were also among the victims. The families of Duarte and his wife, Nicole Valls, released a joint statement identifying the remaining passengers and the pilot involved in the crash.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority reported that the Eurocopter EC130 B4 went down at 9:13 a.m. The aircraft, operated by Lady Lori Helicopters, was conducting a charter flight for the travel company &Beyond when it crashed in the rugged foothills of Mount Ololokwe. Local police commander David Nkoroi confirmed the total death toll of seven but did not immediately release the identities of all individuals on board.
Emergency response teams, including the Kenya Red Cross, were deployed to the site to assist in a multiagency recovery operation. Officials noted that the mission was complicated by the difficult terrain and an active fire at the crash site. Tropic Air Kenya also contributed to the effort by dispatching two of its own helicopters to support the search and rescue operations.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. This incident follows a series of aviation-related tragedies in the region; notably, a legislator was among six people killed in a February helicopter crash in western Kenya, and in 2019, four Americans and a local pilot died in a similar crash in the country’s north. The report also notes that they included a Florida-based Telemundo TV station manager and a well-known Miami restaurateur. The report also notes that in a memo sent to staff obtained by, NBCUniversal leaders called Suárez “a deeply respected leader and beloved friend and colleague. The report also notes that and there are no words to express the depth of our pain, the magnitude of this tragedy is impossible to comprehend. The report also notes that we ask that you keep them all and everyone who loved them in your prayers,” the statement reads. The report also notes that today Michele and Stephany left us too soon. The report also notes that hampered by difficult terrain access and an active fire at the crash site,” the organization posted on social media along with images of the wreckage, search and recovery efforts are ongoing.
