A Miami restaurateur was among the 7 people killed in a Kenya helicopter crash

MIAMI (AP) — The family of a Miami restaurateur say they are “devastated and heartbroken” after he and six others were killed by a safari helicopter crash in a remote part of northern Kenya. A helicopter crashed Wednesday morning while flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Roger Duarte, founder and owner of George Stone Crab, was identified by family members as a passenger.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, officials said. State Department said five of those killed were U.S. “The magnitude of this tragedy is impossible to comprehend, and there are no words to express the depth of our pain,” the statement from Duarte’s family said.

“We ask that you keep them all and everyone who loved them in your prayers.” The statement also named the five other passengers and the pilot. Among those killed were an executive with Telemundo, the U.S.-based Spanish-language network owned by NBCUniversal, and the director of Ecuador’s national intelligence service. José Suárez was the president and general manager of the Telemundo-owned stations in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers, Florida.

Telemundo and NBCUniversal executives called Suárez a deeply respected leader and beloved friend in a memo sent to staff and obtained by The Associated Press “José was an exceptional colleague and mentor to many,” the message said. “He cared deeply about his teams, the communities they served and the essential role our stations play in people’s lives. 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.” Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of the Ecuador’s National Intelligence Center, died in the crash, along with his wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan.

“In this moment of deep sorrow, the government extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and close associates,” Ecuador’s presidency said in a statement posted on X. Sensi-Contugi, a friend and close associate of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and Hollihan were visiting Kenya as tourists. They are survived by their two children.

The last two passengers were identified as Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra, a South Florida married couple. Hlavaty was a real estate executive and co-founde… citizens.“The magnitude of this tragedy is impossible to comprehend, and there are no words to express the depth of our pain,” the statement from Duarte's family said.