Safari helicopter crash kills 7 people in Kenya, including 5 Americans

Safari Helicopter Plunges Into Kenyan Foothills, Killing All Seven Aboard

Wertynews.com – All seven occupants of a tourist helicopter were killed Wednesday when the aircraft went down in a remote stretch of northern Kenya. The six passengers and the pilot perished in the crash, which struck at 9:13 a.m. local time while the plane was en route from the Loisaba Conservancy toward the Ewaso Nyiro region of Samburu County, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.

The aviation regulator confirmed an investigation is now under way. David Nkoroi, the police commander overseeing Samburu County, told reporters that every person aboard had died, though he declined to name them publicly at the time.

Five Americans Among the Dead

The U.S. State Department confirmed to CBS News that five of the seven victims were American citizens. Among them was a manager of a Florida-based Telemundo television station and a prominent restaurateur based in Miami.

“The U.S. Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss.”

NBCUniversal later identified its journalist José Alberto Suárez as one of the fatalities. Suárez served as president and general manager of Telemundo 31, Telemundo 49, and Telemundo Fort Myers–Naples, and had previously worked at CBS Miami during the 1990s. In an internal memo obtained by CBS News, company leaders described him as “a deeply respected leader and beloved friend and colleague.”

“José was an exceptional colleague and mentor to many. He cared deeply about his teams, the communities they served and the essential role our stations play in people’s lives.”

Roger Duarte, the Miami restaurateur, was also confirmed dead by a statement from his family. They described themselves as “devastated and heartbroken” and asked for privacy as they grieve.

“The magnitude of this tragedy is impossible to comprehend, and there are no words to express the depth of our pain. We ask that you keep them all and everyone who loved them in your prayers. We respectfully request privacy as our families grieve this unimaginable loss.”

Ecuadorian Intelligence Chief and Spouse Also Killed

Ecuador’s transport minister announced that Michele Sensi-Contugi, the country’s intelligence chief, along with his wife, were among those who died. Transport Minister Roberto Luque posted on X: “Today Michele and Stephany left us too soon. Thinking of their family, especially their children and parents.”

A joint statement from the Duarte and Valls families — Nicole Valls being Duarte’s wife — additionally named Suárez, Sensi-Contugi, and Stephany Holliham Yeaza among the deceased, while also identifying the pilot and two remaining passengers.

Rescue Efforts Hampered by Terrain and Fire

Local media reported the wreckage lay in rugged terrain within the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a well-known tourist destination. The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC130 B4 owned by Lady Lori Helicopters, had been operating a charter flight carrying guests booked through travel company &Beyond when it crashed, the operator said in a statement.

Tropic Air Kenya, a domestic safari operator, dispatched two of its own helicopters to assist search-and-rescue crews. The Kenya Red Cross said its emergency teams were “participating in a multiagency response effort as rescue teams work to access the crash site,” adding that recovery operations were “hampered by difficult terrain access and an active fire at the crash site.”

A Pattern of Fatal Accidents

Kenya’s booming tourism sector relies heavily on domestic air carriers to shuttle visitors to far-flung locations, and helicopter accidents have grown more frequent. In February, a member of parliament was among six people killed when a helicopter went down in hilly terrain in western Kenya. In 2019, four Americans and a local pilot lost their lives when their aircraft crashed on an island in the country’s north.