Seven people, including five Americans, were killed when a safari helicopter crashed on Wednesday morning in a remote part of northern Kenya, according to local police and the state department.
uncertain
helicopter → include → police
Among the dead were an executive with Telemundo, the US-based Spanish-language network owned by NBC Universal, and the director of Ecuador’s national intelligence service.
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executive → base → service
The helicopter crashed at 9.13am 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 that an investigation was under way.
uncertain
investigation → crash → way
It said there were seven people onboard – six passengers and the pilot.
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It → say → ?
Late on Wednesday, David Nkoroi, the police commander for Samburu, told reporters that all seven people onboard had died.
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people → tell → reporters
In Washington, the state department said five of those killed were US citizens.
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five → say → those
“The US embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance,” it said.
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it → provide → assistance
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss.”
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We → extend → loss
The identities of the victims were not revealed but a local television station in Miami, Florida, said that José Suárez, 55, president and GM of several Telemundo stations in Florida, was among those killed.
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Suárez → reveal → those
“We are heartbroken to learn the tragic news that José was killed in a helicopter accident in Kenya,” the NBC affiliate in Miami quoted from a joint statement from NBC Universal and Telemundo leadership.
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affiliate → heartbroken → Universal
The helicopter crashed in a rugged area in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination in the country, local media reported.
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media → crash → country
The helicopter, owned by local company Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying guests with the travel company +Beyond.
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helicopter → own → company
Lady Lori Helicopters said in a statement that the aircraft was operating a charter flight when it crashed.
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it → say → flight
Tropic Air Kenya, a local safari operator, said in a statement that it dispatched two of its helicopters to aid search and rescue operations.
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it → say → operations
The aviation authority said the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC130 B4.
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aircraft → say → ?
Ecuador confirmed later on Wednesday that Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of the country’s national intelligence center, died in the helicopter crash in Kenya.
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Contugi → confirm → Kenya
In a statement posted on X, the presidency said: “In this moment of deep sorrow, the government extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and close associates.”
Sensi-Contugi was visiting Kenya as a tourist with his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez, who also died in the crash.
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who → post → crash
They are survived by their two children.
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They → survive → children
Helicopter crashes have happened with increasing regularity in Kenya, which has a thriving tourism industry that depends on domestic carriers to ferry visitors to distant places like Mount Ololokwe.
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that → happen → 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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who → die → Kenya
The Aporia
