A Zimbabwean businessman who formed cozy relationships with African leaders, flaunted his lavish lifestyle of private jets and luxury cars and was dogged by corruption allegations died in a helicopter crash in his home country on Wednesday.

The businessman, Wicknell Chivayo, was on his way back to Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, after visiting his rural homestead when the helicopter he was traveling in with several others, including his wife, plummeted into a field, killing everyone on board, according to local news reports and a Zimbabwean government spokesman.

Images from the crash site on the state broadcaster show the charred remains of the helicopter scattered into pieces across a field of brown grass. The authorities said the cause of the crash was under investigation.

Mr. Chivayo, 45, was an intensely divisive figure, and his death has been met with polarized reactions online. Some have expressed sadness for his two children, who were not on the helicopter, while others showed glee over the death of a man they accused of building wealth through corruption, while ordinary Zimbabweans struggled with high poverty and unemployment.