A dream African safari turned into a nightmare Wednesday when a helicopter carrying tourists crashed in a remote part of northern Kenya, killing all seven people on board — including five Americans.
The aircraft went down around 9:13 a.m. on Aug. 19 while flying from the Loisaba Conservancy toward the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, according to Kenya’s aviation authorities.
Six passengers and the pilot were killed.
The U.S. State Department later confirmed that five American citizens were among the victims.
“The U.S. Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance,” a State Department spokesperson said, adding condolences for the victims’ families.
Among those killed was José Alberto Suárez, a longtime television executive who served as president and general manager of Telemundo stations in Florida.
Suárez, who had also worked at CBS Miami during the 1990s, was remembered by NBCUniversal as a “deeply respected leader and beloved friend and colleague.”
“José was an exceptional colleague and mentor to many,” company leaders said in a memo to staff. “He cared deeply about his teams, the communities they served and the essential role our stations play in people’s lives.”
Prominent Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte was also killed.
His family said they were “devastated and heartbroken” by the sudden tragedy.
“The magnitude of this tragedy is impossible to comprehend, and there are no words to express the depth of our pain,” the family said.
They asked for prayers and privacy as loved ones struggled to process the loss.
Ecuadorian officials also revealed that the country’s intelligence chief, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife, Stephany Holliham Yeaza, died in the crash.
“Today Michele and Stephany left us too soon,” Ecuadorian Transport Minister Roberto Luque wrote on social media, offering condolences to their children, parents and relatives.
The helicopter crashed near the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a dramatic mountain and popular tourist destination in Samburu County.
The aircraft, identified as a Eurocopter EC130 B4, was owned by Lady Lori Helicopters and was reportedly operating a charter flight for guests traveling with luxury safari company &Beyond.
Photos from the crash site showed emergency crews working through rugged terrain as smoke and fire surrounded parts of the wreckage.
The Kenya Red Cross said rescue teams faced major obstacles trying to reach the remote location.
“Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, hampered by difficult terrain access and an active fire at the crash site,” the organization said.
Local safari operator Tropic Air Kenya also sent two helicopters to assist with the emergency response.
Authorities have not yet said what caused the helicopter to go down.
Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority has opened an investigation into the disaster.
The crash is the latest deadly helicopter accident to rock Kenya, where aircraft are regularly used to transport tourists between remote wildlife reserves and safari destinations.
Earlier this year, six people — including a Kenyan lawmaker — were killed when another helicopter crashed in a hilly region in western Kenya.
And in 2019, four Americans and a Kenyan pilot were killed when their helicopter crashed on an island in the northern part of the country.
For the families of Wednesday’s victims, what was supposed to be an unforgettable safari ended in unimaginable tragedy.
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