The governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, was once again in the midst of a controversy after his repeated and discretionary use of a state medical helicopter for transfers that are not directly linked to official functions, but to personal activities went viral and family members.
According to available information, the ultra-Kirchner Kicillof used on multiple occasions a medical aircraft owned by the State of Buenos Aires, and therefore financed with public resources, to travel to destinations such as Martín García Island.
The operating cost of the helicopter amounts to approximately $2,000 per hour, reinforcing criticism surrounding the use of state funds for their personal trips.
Axel Kicillof and his wife.
Kicillof's numerous trips One of
the cases occurred in October 2023, during Mother's Day. On that occasion, the provincial president moved with his family to the island to carry out recreational activities
.
The trip was carried out with the medical helicopter of the State of Buenos Aires, a practice that has been repeated since the beginning of its administration.
These outings would not be limited to specific dates, but would include celebrations such as New Year, Father's Day and meetings with family, friends and officials.
During that visit, his wife, the writer Soledad Quereilhac, was photographed carrying out recreational activities such as kayaking and nature tours, in a context unrelated to public management tasks.
Axel Kicillof and his wife on Martín García Island.
Another episode mentioned took place in September 2021, when the medical helicopter, equipped with two stretchers for airmedical transport, was used for a personal outing of the ultra-Kirchnerist governor
with his wife.
On that occasion, Quereilhac posted on social networks: “In the run-up to the elections, we spent the day on Martín García Island, one of the most beautiful places in the province of Buenos Aires, and with a lot of history. It's also a good place to spend Teacher's Day and remember the Sarmientino dream of Argirópolis, the Capital of the Confederate States of the Rio de la
Plata”.
According to the above-mentioned records, Kicillof traveled at least eight times to Martín García Island using the state medical helicopter model Eurocopter EC145/BK117 C2. These transfers include both official visits and private activities, including family celebrations and personal getaways.
The publication of Kicillof's wife.
Among the detailed trips are one made in September 2021, a family weekend in November of the same year, the New Year celebration in January 2022, and several visits in March 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 as part of the island's anniversaries
.
There is also mention of a new stay during the New Year holidays between 2025 and 2026, as well as a visit on March 20, 2026.
In this way, the frequent use of the state helicopter by the Kirchner governor for personal purposes became evident again, raising questions about the administration of public resources, taxpayers' money, and the lack of controls over this type of transfer.
