Stephany Hollihan Vasconez
Posted on 08/19/2026 12:37:19 PM PDT by DFG
A key Telemundo executive was one of seven helicopter passengers killed in a fiery crash near the foothills of a mountain in northern Kenya on Wednesday.
Florida-native 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 announced the news in a memo to employees, obtained by Variety.
“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.
“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. 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 suddenness and circumstances of José’s passing make this loss especially difficult to comprehend. Our hearts are with his loved ones, and with all of José’s colleagues and friends across NBCUniversal who are grieving this terrible loss.”
Before he was a station leader, Suárez was director of creative services and programming for WTVJ in Miami.
Suárez has received multiple accolades for his work, including a Lone Star Emmy, a Suncoast Emmy, three Emmys for best daily newscast and multiple Associated Press awards.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
“Forbes 30 under 30 chief executive Roger Duarte has been named among seven people who died in a helicopter crash in Kenya on Wednesday morning.
Duarte, 42, was one of at least four Americans on board the chartered aircraft, which plummeted to the ground at 9.13am before it reached its remote safari destination.
Everyone on board - six tourists and a Kenyan pilot - perished in the tragedy. Florida-based TV executive José Suárez has also been named among the dead.”
Ok, so who shot it down?
Seven out of ten such crashes are targeted kills.
Aviation ping..............😥
Case of Getthereidist?
Kobe had a terminal case of that rotten bastard
Also killed in the crash was the director general of Ecuador’s intelligence agency, Michele Sensi-Contugi
I can’t stand it when they don’t mention the type of helicopter - that’s half of the darned story right there.
Here ya go:
...The Eurocopter EC130 B4, registered 5Y-GYM, was carrying six passengers and one pilot when it crashed near Kirish, close to Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County...
...“We can confirm that on the morning of August 19, an aircraft registered as 5Y-GYM, carrying &Beyond guests, crashed near Kirish, close to Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu County, Kenya,” the company said in a statement....
I would’ve guess an MiL-8, what with it being Africa and all.
https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/seven-killed-ec130-helicopter-crash-kenya
And 87% of all statistics are made-up.
Passengers on Board
Michele Sensi-Contugi: Director-general of Ecuador’s National Intelligence Center (CIES/CNI).
Stephany Hollihan Vasconez: Wife of Michele Sensi-Contugi and a dual U.S.–Ecuadorian citizen.
José Alberto Suárez: President and general manager for several Florida-based Telemundo television stations under NBCUniversal.
Roger Duarte: A Miami-based restaurateur
.Adam Martin Hlavaty: A traveler/tourist.
Henry Parra: A traveler/tourist.
The pilot operating the charter flight for safari operator &Beyond via Lady Lori Helicopters was fourth-generation Kenyan aviator Josh Outram, who also lost his life in the accident.
Thanks - did not see that in the original article.
I've been working with helicopters for 46 years so the model is key. Always sad at the loss of life, but the non-human part of the story is most interesting to me.
The only way I get on a Helichopper is to leave the island to escape the exploding volcano or some such.
At least in an airplane you have some chance to survive unless it arrows in.
Well, they weren’t smart enough to avoid a helicopter ride in Kenya. Were they taking it somewhere to go bungee jumping?
“I can’t stand it when they don’t mention the type of helicopter - that’s half of the darned story right there.”
“Kenyan” was enough description for me.
Just now on FNC, reported a small Cessna for some reason swerved into a hovering LE helicopter’s tail rotor. Pilot dead, 2 LE injured.
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