A helicopter crash in Kenya’s northern Samburu county has left no survivors — with several tourists, including a Telemundo executive, José Alberto Suárez, 55, reportedly on board when it nosedived.
The crash happened at Lolokwe Mountain at around 9.13am local time on Wednesday.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the helicopter was heading from the Loisaba wildlife reserve to the Ewaso Nyiro river that flows through the Samburu National Reserve.
All the seven helicopter passengers were killed in the fiery crash near the foothills of a mountain in northern Kenya.
José Alberto Suárez, 55, was traveling in the chopper around 9:13 a.m. when the aircraft crashed near Mount Ololokwe, in Samburu County, Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority said.
NBCUniversal News Chairman Cesar Conde, NBCU Local Chairman Valari Staab and Telemundo station group president Jose Cancela who announced the news in a memo to employees, said: “We are heartbroken to share the tragic news that José Suárez, the president and general manager of the Telemundo-owned stations in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers, was killed in a helicopter accident in Kenya. José was a deeply respected leader and beloved friend and colleague across NBCU Local and NBCU News Group,” the memo reportedly read.
Preliminary police report said seven tourists were aboard the helicopter when it went down. The nationalities of other tourists have not been publicly confirmed.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the helicopter descend rapidly into a deep mountain valley before the impact triggered a spreading blaze.
The KCAA said the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC130 B4 with registration 5Y-GYM.
The authority noted that it is coordinating with the relevant agencies and stakeholders in response to the accident, with the ministry of roads and transport, air accident investigation department leading investigations on circumstances surrounding the accident.
“The Authority extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims following this tragic incident,” KCAA said.
The Ololokwe Mountain has, in recent years, emerged as a popular tourist destination in Kenya, attracting visitors drawn to its dramatic landscape and scenic views.
Also known as Ol Donyo Sabache, the mountain is a striking, flat-topped pile, in Samburu County, rising prominently above the surrounding arid landscape.
It has also become a popular spot for photography and videography, attracting thousands of visitors seeking to capture its distinctive view.
The Kenya Red Cross, alongside local emergency response teams, are said to be participating in a multi-agency response effort.
