Bogota, March 24 – The death toll from a crash of a Colombian military aircraft in the southern Putumayo region of Colombia has risen to 66, with 57 others injured, according to local media, citing military sources.
The C-130 Hercules transport plane, carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members, was operated by the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC), as stated by Carlos Silva, commander of the FAC, in a video posted on X. He added that an investigative team has been sent to determine the cause of the crash, according to Xinhua news agency.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in a post on X, stated that the status of more than 40 people on board the plane is still unconfirmed.
Colombian Air Force Commander Fernando Silva, in a video posted on social media, said the plane had 114 passengers and 11 crew members on board, while also stating that authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez, in a post on X earlier on Monday, stated that a transport plane crashed during takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo. He added that military units were at the scene, and the cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Sanchez expressed his "deepest condolences" to the families of the victims, noting that all necessary protocols have been activated to support those affected.
Some of the injured soldiers were flown to the capital Bogota for treatment.
Sanchez has sent condolences to the families of those affected.
Petro said the crash "should never have happened." He lamented the lack of modernization of the armed forces, which he attributed to "bureaucratic difficulties."
The accident occurred when the Lockheed Martin-built Hercules C-130 was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, on the border with Peru, as stated by Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez earlier on X.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro thanked the people who rushed to the crash site to save the lives of those aboard.
Flight data shows the plane was a C-130H Hercules, an older model of the C-130 series that first entered service in March 1965, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The plane had been donated to the Colombian Air Force by the US Air Force in September 2020.
Footage shared across social platforms captured the moment the troop transport aircraft went into a steep dive shortly after departure. Additional media from local source BluRadio depicted heavy smoke billowing from the wreckage following the impact. While these visuals have not been independently confirmed by HT, BluRadio noted that the accident occurred only 3 km away from a populated area.