The crash
A safari helicopter crashed on Wednesday morning in a remote part of northern Kenya, killing all seven people on board. The aircraft went down at 9:13 a.m. near Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination in Samburu County. It was flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
The helicopter was owned by Lady Lori Helicopters and was carrying guests of &Beyond, a luxury travel company. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said there were six passengers and one pilot on board. Local police commander David Nkoroi confirmed late Wednesday that all seven people died.
Images from the scene showed flames, smoke and wreckage scattered across rugged, rocky terrain. Recovery teams have struggled to reach the site because of the difficult landscape and an active fire reported after the crash.
The victims
Five of the dead were Americans, according to local police and the U.S. State Department. Among them was Jose Suarez, a longtime Telemundo executive who led stations in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers. NBCUniversal chairman Cesar Conde called Suarez a deeply respected leader and a beloved friend and colleague who brought a strong record of service over more than two decades at the network.
Also killed was the director of Ecuador's national intelligence service. Suarez and his wife, Stephanie, were remembered by friends as a married couple who loved to travel. The crash also took the life of a prominent Miami businessman.
Investigation under way
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said an investigation has been opened. Investigators are expected to examine the debris field, the weather at the time of the crash, maintenance records for the helicopter and the pilot's training history.
The U.S. State Department said the American embassy in Kenya is in contact with local authorities and is providing consular assistance to the families of the victims. The crash has drawn attention to the safety of helicopter flights that carry tourists between conservancies in East Africa's safari country.