MADISON, WISCONSIN – Eugene Hasenfus, whose capture in 1986 helped expose the Iran-Contra affair, has died at the age of 84. Hasenfus passed away on Nov. 26 in Menominee, Michigan, after a nine-year battle with cancer.
Born on Jan. 22, 1941, in Marinette, Wisconsin, Hasenfus served in the Marines during the Vietnam War and later pursued a career in aviation. His life took a dramatic turn in October 1986 when the CIA-backed supply plane he was on was shot down over Nicaragua while delivering arms to the anti-communist Contras. Three crew members died, but Hasenfus survived by parachuting into the jungle, where he evaded capture for more than 24 hours before being apprehended by Nicaraguan authorities.
His capture exposed the secret U.S. operations supporting the Contras after Congress had cut off military aid in 1984. Hasenfus publicly confirmed CIA involvement, contradicting initial statements from Reagan administration officials denying any U.S. connection. The incident prompted congressional investigations into the Iran-Contra scandal.
Hasenfus was convicted in Nicaragua for his role in the arms deliveries and sentenced to 30 years in prison, but he was pardoned by President Daniel Ortega a month later and returned home to northern Wisconsin. In 1988, he filed a lawsuit seeking $135 million over his involvement in the Iran-Contra network, which was ultimately unsuccessful.
Later in life, Hasenfus faced legal issues in Wisconsin, including a 2003 guilty plea for lewd conduct and a subsequent jail sentence after probation revocation in 2005. He is survived by four children and eight grandchildren.