Downing of Hasenfus's Plane

Date: October 5, 1986 • Location: Washington, United States

Eugene Hasenfus's plane was shot down by Nicaraguan forces while carrying weapons to the Contra rebels on behalf of the U.S. government; he was subsequently captured, leading to an international controversy.

Eugene Haines Hasenfus was a United States Marine who helped fly weapons shipments on behalf of the U.S. government to the right-wing rebel Contras in Nicaragua. The sole survivor after his plane was shot down by the Nicaraguan government in 1986, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for terrorism and other charges, but pardoned and released the same year. The statements of admission he made to the Sandinista government resulted in a controversy in the U.S. government after the Reagan administration denied any connection to him.