By Paul Joseph
At least 66 people have been confirmed dead after a military aircraft belonging to the Colombian Air Force crashed shortly after takeoff in southern Colombia, officials have said.
According to Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda, the aircraft was carrying 114 army personnel along with 11 crew members when the трагедия occurred.
The plane, identified as a C-130 Hercules manufactured by Lockheed Martin, went down near the town of Puerto Leguízamo in Putumayo province, close to the border with Peru on Monday, March 23, 2026
Emergency response teams were swiftly deployed to the crash site, where rescue workers searched through the wreckage for survivors. Local media footage showed thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky.
Pedro Sánchez described the incident as “a tragic accident” that occurred during takeoff while the aircraft was transporting troops. He later revealed that ammunition onboard detonated after a fire broke out on the plane, worsening the impact of the crash.
Military sources told international media that the casualties included dozens of soldiers, Air Force personnel, and police officers.
The crash is now regarded as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the country’s recent military history.
Eyewitness footage also suggested that some injured victims were transported from the crash site to nearby hospitals using motorcycles, highlighting the urgency and scale of the emergency response.
Reacting to the incident, President Gustavo Petro expressed deep sorrow, calling the crash “horrendous” and one that should never have happened.
He also pointed to bureaucratic delays that have hindered efforts to modernise the country’s military aircraft.
Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash, as the nation mourns the loss of dozens of service members in the devastating accident.
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