• Tragic air accident in Kenya.
  • Telemundo Florida executive dies.
  • Shock at NBCUniversal News Group.

Jose Alberto Suárez passes away: Farewell to a benchmark of Hispanic television. Jose Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of Telemundo stations in Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers, lost his life at 55 after a tragic accident involving a helicopter in a remote area of northern Kenya. According to Telemundo, it occurred during a safari.

The aircraft, operated by Lady Lori Kenya, crashed in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, in Samburu County, claiming the lives of all seven occupants on board, including four U.S. citizens.

The U.S. Department of State confirmed the incident through a statement issued to NBC News, while the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority detailed that the impact occurred at 9:13 am local time.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Red Cross reported that search and rescue efforts faced significant obstacles due to the rugged terrain and a fire that broke out at the crash site, requiring the deployment of additional support teams.

Jose Alberto Suárez passes away: A two-decade career marked by leadership

Throughout his more than 20 years with the company, Suárez consolidated a solid career that included directing stations in key markets such as San Antonio, Sacramento, Fresno, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas.

Previously, he held strategic positions in programming, digital media, and creative services for Telemundo Station Group, NBC6, and Telemundo 51 in Miami, in addition to gaining prior experience in media in Florida, Ohio, and Texas.

César Conde, president of NBCUniversal News Group, along with Valari Staab and José Cancela, deeply lamented the loss in a joint message addressed to employees.

“Jose was a highly respected leader, as well as a beloved friend and colleague to many at NBCU Local and NBCU News Group. He was an exceptional colleague and mentor to many,” the executives stated in the letter. «We are devastated to learn of the tragic news that Jose died in a helicopter accident in Kenya,» Telemundo reported in a statement signed by its top executives, describing Suárez, 55, as «Jose was an exceptional colleague concerned about his teams and the communities served by his stations,» Telemundo added.

Legacy and international recognition in journalism

Jose Alberto Suárez passes away. The impact of the executive transcended the boundaries of the markets he led, standing out for his human quality and constant professionalism.

His superiors emphasized that he brought “energy, sense of humor, warmth, and a firm sense of purpose to his work,” always taking care of his teams and the Hispanic communities he served daily through television.

Throughout his journalistic career, Suárez was the recipient of multiple awards, including a Lone Star Emmy for overall excellence in San Antonio, a recognition from the Suncoast chapter, and three Emmy awards from the Cleveland chapter for his impeccable coverage of daily news.

The network announced that in the coming days, it will release more details about the planned tributes to honor his memory and legacy.