Telemundo Florida stations president among five Americans killed in Kenya crash
Five Americans, including a Telemundo executive, were killed Wednesday when a charter helicopter crashed in Samburu County, Kenya, the State Department said. The helicopter, operated by Lady Lori Kenya Ltd., went down around 9:13 a.m. local time with seven people aboard, according to Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority.
The cause of the crash has not been determined. Kenya’s Red Cross said search and recovery efforts at the site were being hampered by difficult terrain and an active fire.
According to a message to NBC employees reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, one of the Americans killed was José Suárez, a Telemundo executive who had spent more than 20 years with the company. Suárez was president of Telemundo-owned Florida stations in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers.
“He brought energy, humor, warmth and a strong sense of purpose to his work, and his impact was felt far beyond the stations he led,” the note said.
Lady Lori Kenya Ltd. confirmed on social media that one of its aircraft was involved in the accident, describing the trip as a charter flight. The company said it was cooperating with authorities and that the cause had not been determined.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the guests, crew, their families and loved ones, and all those affected by this tragic accident,” the company said.
A State Department spokesperson said Wednesday that the aircraft went down in Samburu County, about eight hours north of Nairobi.