A helicopter crash in Kenya’s Samburu County on August 19 killed seven people, including Americans and an Ecuadorian intelligence service director. The aircraft was flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area when it went down near Mount Ololokwe. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority reported that all seven people on board died in the crash.
Among those killed was José Suárez, president and general manager of several Telemundo stations, according to The Orange County Register. Suárez had worked for nearly two decades with Telemundo and NBC stations before his death, according to a report from People. Another victim was Roger Edward Duarte, a Miami-based entrepreneur and CEO of Hospitality Capital Partners.
Duarte also owned businesses including George Stone Crab and My Ceviche. Ecuador’s National Intelligence Center director, Michele Sensi-Contugi, was among the victims. Sensi-Contugi died alongside his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez, a fashion designer from Ecuador.
The helicopter was operated by Lady Lori Helicopters and was carrying guests with the travel company &Beyond. The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC130 B4, was on a charter flight when it crashed. Search and recovery efforts were underway in a remote area near the mountain, hampered by difficult access and an active fire.
The State Department confirmed that five of the victims were American citizens. The U.S. Embassy in Kenya said it was in contact with local authorities and offering consular assistance. Ecuador’s presidency issued a statement expressing condolences for Sensi-Contugi and his family.
The crash occurred in a rugged area of the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a well-known tourist destination. Local media reported that Tropic Air Kenya dispatched two of its helicopters to aid search and rescue operations. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said it was coordinating with multiple agencies in its investigation.
This crash follows a pattern of helicopter accidents in Kenya, which has a strong tourism industry relying on air travel to remote locations. In February, a legislator was among six people who died after a helicopter crash in western Kenya. The identities of the victims were not immediately released by local authorities.
Telemundo and NBCUniversal issued statements mourning Suárez’s passing. Colleagues described him as a mentor and someone who brought energy and warmth to his work. The crash site was located in an area that is hard to reach, complicating recovery efforts.
Ecuador’s transport minister confirmed the death of Sensi-Contugi and his wife in the incident, CBS News reported. The Ecuadorian intelligence chief was visiting Kenya as a tourist with his wife at the time of the crash. Sensi-Contugi and his wife are survived by two children.
The helicopter crash was not the first of its kind in Kenya’s aviation history. In 2019, a similar crash in northern Kenya killed four Americans and a local pilot.
IMAGE: Ed Schipul from Houston, TX, US / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)