Ecuador's President Died for Keeping Oil Wealth - Mysterious Plane Explosion

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:00]The youngest president in Ecuador's history was killed for keeping his country's oil. It's 1979 Quito, Ecuador.

[00:00:07]A 38-year-old lawyer wins the presidency promising to use oil money for schools and hospitals instead of foreign companies. Jaime Roldós becomes a hero across Latin America. He defends human rights, refuses to support American wars, and plans to renegotiate oil contracts that give most profits to foreign firms. He travels to remote villages connecting with indigenous communities. For 2 years he builds a movement, but Washington and oil companies watch nervously as he investigates their deals. His security team warns him about assassination threats. He ignores them and keeps traveling. On May 24th, 1981, he boards a plane to visit supporters in the mountains. The weather is perfect, no storms, clear skies. His plane explodes mid-air over the Andes killing him and his family. Witnesses report hearing the explosion before impact. The investigation closes quickly with no answers. The president who tried to keep Ecuador's oil wealth in Ecuador was Jaime Roldós.