Key facts
- A safari helicopter crashed in northern Kenya's Samburu county.
- Seven people, including five Americans, were killed in the crash.
- The helicopter was en route from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area.
- José Suárez, president and GM of several Telemundo stations, was among the victims.
- The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is investigating the incident.
Seven people, including five Americans, were killed when a safari helicopter crashed in a remote area of northern Kenya on Wednesday morning. The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC130 B4 owned by Lady Lori Helicopters, was en route from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County when it crashed at 9:13 a.m. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into the incident. Local police confirmed all seven individuals on board, comprising six passengers and the pilot, died. The U.S. Embassy is providing consular assistance to the families of the American victims. One of the deceased was identified as José Suárez, 55, president and general manager of several Telemundo stations in Florida. Local media reported the crash occurred in a rugged area near Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination. Tropic Air Kenya dispatched helicopters to assist in search and rescue operations, and the Kenya Red Cross was also involved in the multiagency response. Helicopter crashes have become increasingly common in Kenya, a country with a significant tourism industry reliant on air transport to remote locations.