Seven killed, including five Americans, in Kenya safari helicopter crash

Seven people, including five Americans, were killed after a helicopter carrying tourists on safari crashed in mountainous terrain in Kenya.

(NBC)- Seven people, including five Americans, were killed after a helicopter carrying tourists on safari crashed in mountainous terrain in Kenya.

New video shows search and recovery operations around the charred wreckage, including a warped tail rotor. Images from the Kenya Red Cross also showed smoke rising from the crash site.

Among the Americans killed was José Suárez, a Telemundo executive who led stations in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers. Suárez was a more than 20-year veteran of NBCUniversal News Group.

Prominent South Florida restaurateur Roger Duarte was also killed, along with married South Florida couple Henry Parra and Adam Lavatay, who friends said shared a love of travel.

Ecuadorian intelligence official Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife, Stephany, were also aboard.

The helicopter went down around 9:13 a.m. local time near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County. The pilot and all six passengers were killed.

Kenyan authorities said the aircraft was traveling between two safari conservancies when it crashed.

NBC News aviation analyst John Cox said investigators will likely examine the debris field, weather conditions, the helicopter’s maintenance history and the pilot’s training as they work to determine what caused the crash.

The mountainous terrain has complicated recovery efforts, and an active fire was also reported at the crash site.

NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde said colleagues were “heartbroken” by Suárez’s death, remembering him as an exceptional colleague who cared deeply about his teams.