Air tragedy in Kenya: José Alberto Suárez, Telemundo executive, dies
The world of business communication and leadership is in mourning following the passing of José Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of three Telemundo stations in Florida. Suárez lost his life this Wednesday in a tragic helicopter accident that occurred in northern Kenya, a disaster that left a total of seven people dead.
Among the victims of the accident was also Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of Ecuador’s National Intelligence Center, who was traveling with his wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan.
We are heartbroken to learn the tragic news that José died in a helicopter crash in Kenya. José was an exceptional colleague, deeply concerned for his teams and the communities their networks served.
Official statement from Telemundo
A distinguished career in communication
José Alberto Suárez, 55, had a solid 18-year career at Telemundo. Since 2024, he oversaw station operations in Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers-Naples. His professional legacy includes significant milestones:
- Station management in Sacramento, Las Vegas, Fresno, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio.
- Professional beginnings as a reporter and news anchor.
- Recognition of his journalistic work through various regional Emmy awards.
Accident details
The incident involved a Eurocopter EC130 helicopter, which crashed around 09:13 local time, near Mount Ololokwe, a mountainous region located about 350 kilometers north of Nairobi. According to reports from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, six tourists and the pilot were traveling on the aircraft, all of whom lost their lives in the impact.
The United States Department of State has confirmed that four of the deceased were U.S. citizens, although the full identities of all victims remain under official verification process by Kenyan authorities.
Currently, the Air Accident Investigation Department of the Kenyan Ministry of Roads and Transport is carrying out the corresponding expert assessment work. The difficult access to the crash site has required the use of advanced technology, such as drones, for inspection and rescue efforts, while the international community remains attentive to the results of the investigation into the causes that led to this tragedy.
