The bodies of four people who were killed when a safari helicopter they were flying in crashed Wednesday in a remote part of northern Kenya have been recovered, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
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The aircraft was carrying six passengers and the pilot for a “scenic flight” when it crashed at 9:13 a.m. in a rugged area in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination in the country.
Fred Kabunge, chief investigator of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department, told NBC News that rescuers would return to the crash site Thursday to recover the bodies of the remaining three victims.
The rugged terrain has made recovery efforts difficult, Kabunge said, adding, “You have to be airlifted from one spot to another.”
Kenya’s Red Cross said Wednesday the complex nature of the terrain and a fire at the site of the crash impeded its search and recovery efforts.
Among the dead were José Alberto Suárez, an executive with Telemundo, the U.S.-based Spanish-language network owned by NBCUniversal, and the director of Ecuador’s national intelligence service.
Suárez was the president and general manager of Telemundo Orlando, Telemundo Tampa and Telemundo Ft. Myers–Naples. His death was confirmed by the NBCU News Group.
In a joint statement, NBCU News Group Chairman Cesar Conde, NBCU Local Chairman Valari Staab and Telemundo Station Group President Jose Cancela said they were heartbroken to learn of his death.
“José was an exceptional colleague who cared deeply about his teams, the communities they served and the important role our stations play in people’s lives,” the statement said. “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. Our hearts are with his loved ones, and with all of José’s colleagues and friends who are grieving this terrible loss.”
The helicopter, owned by local company Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying guests with travel company &Beyond, as they flew from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, which said in a statement that an investigation was underway. Lady Lori Helicopters said in a statement that the aircraft was operating a charter flight when it crashed.
Video verified by NBC News showed the helicopter’s wreckage, with parts of the aircraft strewn across the foothills. Some parts appeared to be burning as the video was taken.
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The director general of Ecuador’s national intelligence center, Michele Sensi-Contugi, died along with his wife Stephany Hollihan, according to the country’s president’s office, which offered condolences in a social media post.
“In this moment of deep sorrow, the government extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and close associates,” the statement on X read.
Sensi-Contugi, a friend and close associate of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, was visiting Kenya as a tourist with his wife. She was a U.S. and Ecuadorian citizen. They are survived by their two children.
Miami restaurateur Roger Edward Duarte was also among the crash victims, according to a statement from his family. Duarte, 39, was the founder and owner of a stone crab home delivery company called George Stone Crab.
“The magnitude of this tragedy is impossible to comprehend, and there are no words to express the depth of our pain,” the family said. “We ask that you keep them all and everyone who loved them in your prayer.”
Married South Florida couple Henry Parra and Adam Hlavaty were also among the tourists killed while on safari. The pair, who were married in 2017, loved to travel the world and give back, their friends told NBC News. Their families declined to comment.
The U.S. State Department said it was in touch with local authorities and the U.S. Embassy is providing consular assistance.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss,” a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said in a statement to NBC News. The agency declined to comment further, citing privacy concerns.
The aviation authority said that the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC130 B4.
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.
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