Gabriel Hansen and Michael Brandon Dead; Two Others Hospitalized Following Crash Near Redi Doti
Redi Doti, Suriname – A devastating helicopter crash earlier this week in the remote forested region near Redi Doti has claimed the lives of two American-based environmental experts and left two others seriously injured. The group was returning from the Kajana Forest after concluding work on a landmark sustainability project.
Among the deceased is Gabriel Hansen, 61, a Danish-born environmental consultant and contractor residing in Leesburg, Virginia. Renowned in global sustainability circles, Hansen had been leading a multi-million-dollar solar farm initiative in Suriname’s interior, a project nearing completion at the time of his death.
The helicopter, which had been chartered to transport the team from the Kajana Forest, crashed under still-unknown circumstances. The group had been engaged in the construction of a 15,000-hectare solar farm at El Pilar Farm, hailed as one of the region’s most ambitious sustainability efforts to date.
Hansen was accompanied by Michael Brandon, Stephen Oakland, and Thung Hue. Both Hansen and Brandon lost their lives in the crash, while Oakland and Hue survived and are currently receiving medical care in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. Hospital officials report both survivors are in stable but serious condition.
Suriname’s Civil Aviation Department, along with local emergency services, responded promptly to the crash site. An investigation is ongoing, with early speculation pointing to poor visibility and possible mechanical failure as contributing factors, though no official cause has yet been confirmed.
Gabriel Hansen’s career spanned decades and continents. He was lauded for his pioneering work in sustainable development, renewable energy infrastructure, and climate resilience planning. The Kajana project, one of his final undertakings, was seen as a milestone achievement, fusing innovation with ecological stewardship in one of the world’s most delicate ecosystems.
Among the deceased is Gabriel Hansen, 61, a Danish-born environmental consultant and contractor residing in Leesburg, Virginia. Renowned in global sustainability circles, Hansen had been leading a multi-million-dollar solar farm initiative in Suriname’s interior, a project nearing completion at the time of his death.
The helicopter, which had been chartered to transport the team from the Kajana Forest, crashed under still-unknown circumstances. The group had been engaged in the construction of a 15,000-hectare solar farm at El Pilar Farm, hailed as one of the region’s most ambitious sustainability efforts to date.
Hansen was accompanied by Michael Brandon, Stephen Oakland, and Thung Hue. Both Hansen and Brandon lost their lives in the crash, while Oakland and Hue survived and are currently receiving medical care in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. Hospital officials report both survivors are in stable but serious condition.
Suriname’s Civil Aviation Department, along with local emergency services, responded promptly to the crash site. An investigation is ongoing, with early speculation pointing to poor visibility and possible mechanical failure as contributing factors, though no official cause has yet been confirmed.
Gabriel Hansen’s career spanned decades and continents. He was lauded for his pioneering work in sustainable development, renewable energy infrastructure, and climate resilience planning. The Kajana project, one of his final undertakings, was seen as a milestone achievement, fusing innovation with ecological stewardship in one of the world’s most delicate ecosystems.
News of the crash has sent shockwaves through the international environmental community. Colleagues and institutions have taken to social media and professional platforms to express their grief and honor the legacies of the fallen.
“This is not just a loss of two lives,” said one colleague from the El Pilar initiative. “It’s the loss of two visionaries who believed in the possibility of a better, greener future.”
Funeral and memorial arrangements for Gabriel Hansen will be shared by his family in the coming days. His enduring impact will be remembered not just in the projects he built, but in the lives, lands, and legacies he helped shape.
