A Miami restaurateur was among seven people killed when a safari helicopter crashed in a remote area of northern Kenya on Wednesday morning. Five of the seven individuals who died in the crash were U.S. citizens, the U.S. State Department confirmed.
The helicopter was en route from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County when the incident occurred. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
Roger Duarte, the founder and owner of George Stone Crab, was identified by his family as one of the passengers who perished. In a statement, his family expressed their devastation and heartbreak.
Among the other U.S. citizens killed were José Suárez, president and general manager of Telemundo-owned stations in Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers, Florida, and a married couple from South Florida, Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra. Suárez was described by Telemundo and NBCUniversal executives as a respected leader and mentor. Hlavaty was a real estate executive and co-founder of MRKT Group. Parra, a U.S. Navy veteran, co-founded an aviation maintenance company and was remembered for his commitment to the Miami community and charitable endeavors.
Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of Ecuador's National Intelligence Center, and his wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan, were also among the deceased. Sensi-Contugi, a close associate of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and Hollihan, a dual U.S. and Ecuadorian citizen, were visiting Kenya as tourists. They are survived by their two children.
The pilot, Josh Outram, founder of Africa Heli Adventures, also died in the crash. Save the Elephants, a conservation group, expressed sadness over his passing, noting his work as a dedicated and experienced pilot.
The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC130 B4 owned by Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying guests from the travel company &Beyond. Lady Lori Helicopters confirmed the aircraft was operating a charter flight when it crashed. Tropic Air Kenya dispatched two helicopters to assist in search and rescue operations.
The crash occurred in a rugged area in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination. Helicopter crashes have become more frequent in Kenya, a country whose tourism industry relies on domestic carriers to transport visitors to remote locations.