Scores killed as Colombian military plane crashes on takeoff
Colombian Military Plane Crash Claims 69 Lives During Takeoff
A Colombian military transport aircraft crashed during takeoff in the southern region of the country on Monday, leaving at least 69 fatalities and 57 injured, according to official sources. The C-130 Hercules, which was en route from Caucaya Airport, broke apart upon impact and ignited a fire near Puerto Leguízamo, a town in the Putumayo area bordering Peru.
Passenger Breakdown Revealed
The military confirmed that 113 of the 126 individuals aboard were soldiers, with two police officers and 11 crew members also on board. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, as stated by Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez. He noted that there is no evidence pointing to an attack by criminal groups, emphasizing that the plane was in airworthy condition and the crew was “duly qualified.”
“This tragedy should never have happened,” said Colombian President Gustavo Petro, expressing concern over the armed forces’ lack of modernization, which he linked to bureaucratic challenges.
Video Evidence Captures the Incident
A geolocated video by CNN depicts the Hercules departing Caucaya Airport and flying over a rural area moments before the crash. The footage suggests the plane fell within less than two miles of the departure point. On-site images showed dense black smoke and intense flames rising from the wreckage.
Rescue Operations and Casualty Updates
Nicolas Ordoñez, an indigenous ranger participating in the search efforts in Leguízamo, informed CNN that several survivors had been transported to a local hospital. Some injured personnel were airlifted to Bogotá for further medical care. Sánchez extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
Aircraft Details and Historical Context
The crashed plane was a C-130H Hercules, an earlier version of the C-130 series first introduced in March 1965 by Lockheed Martin. It was donated to the Colombian Air Force by the US Air Force in September 2020. Despite its age, the model is known for its reliability in remote and challenging environments.
This marks another fatal aviation incident in Colombia’s recent history. Earlier in January, a similar crash occurred near Cúcuta in the northeast, claiming the lives of all 126 on board, including congressman Diógenes Quintero. The report has been updated to reflect the latest developments, with contributions from CNN’s Stefano Pozzebon, Avery Schmitz, and Ivonne Valdés.
