RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from CBS News — Top — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 13 sources
A helicopter taking tourists on a safari crashed Wednesday in a remote part of northern Kenya, killing all seven people on board. In a statement to CBS News, the State Department confirmed five Americans were killed in the crash."The U.S. Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance," the spokesperson said. "We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss." The helicopter crashed at 9:13 a.m. while flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, which said in a statement an investigation was underway. Six passengers and the pilot were on the helicopter. David Nkoroi, the police commander for Samburu, told reporters all seven people on board had died but did not reveal their identities. Later Wednesday, NBCUniversal said its journalist Jos\u00e9 Alberto Su\u00e1rez \u2014 president and general manager of Telemundo 31, Telemundo 49 and Telemundo Fort\u00a0Myers\u2013Naples \u2014 was among those killed in the crash.In a memo sent to staff obtained by CBS News, NBCUniversal called Su\u00e1rez "a deeply respected leader and beloved friend and colleague." "Jos\u00e9 was an exceptional colleague and mentor to many," the memo says. "He cared deeply about his teams, the communities they served and the essential role our stations play in people\u0027s lives."\u00a0Separately, Ecuador\u0027s transport minister said the nation\u0027s intelligence chief, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife were killed in the crash."Today Michele and Stephany left us too soon. Thinking of their family, especially their children and parents," transport minister Roberto Luque wrote on X. The helicopter crashed in a rugged area in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination in the country, local media reported. The helicopter, owned by local company Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying guests with travel company &Beyond. Lady Lori Helicopters said in a statement\u00a0the aircraft was operating a charter flight when it crashed. Tropic Air Kenya, a local safari operator, said in a statement it dispatched two of its helicopters to aid search and rescue operations. The aviation authority said the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC130 B4. The Kenya Red Cross said its emergency response teams were "participating in a multiagency response effort as rescue teams work to access the crash site." "Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, hampered by difficult terrain access and an active fire at the crash site," the organization posted on social media along with images of the wreckage. Helicopter crashes have happened with increasing regularity in Kenya, which has a vibrant tourism industry that depends on domestic carriers to ferry visitors to distant places like Mount Ololokwe. In February, a legislator was among six people who died after a helicopter crash in a hilly area of western Kenya. In 2019, four Americans and a local pilot were killed\u00a0in Kenya when their helicopter crashed on an island in the north of the country.
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.