A devastating military plane crash in southern Colombia has left at least 66 people dead, with authorities continuing search operations for four individuals still unaccounted for following the disaster.
The aircraft, a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules built by Lockheed Martin, was carrying 128 people at the time of the crash, including military personnel and police officers. According to armed forces chief Hugo Alejandro López, those on board included 11 Air Force members, 115 army personnel, and two national police officers.
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The incident occurred during takeoff from Puerto Leguízamo, a remote area near the Peruvian border. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez said the aircraft appeared to encounter trouble near the end of the runway.
Fire official Eduardo San Juan Callejas reported that the plane may have struck the ground before a wing clipped a tree as it descended. The impact triggered a fire, with reports suggesting onboard explosives may have detonated upon crash.
Local residents were among the first responders, rushing to the scene and transporting injured survivors on motorcycles before emergency crews arrived. However, difficult terrain and limited access slowed rescue operations.
Authorities confirmed that dozens of survivors were taken to nearby medical facilities, with at least 57 hospitalized. Of those, approximately 30 were reported to be in stable condition.
President Gustavo Petro responded to the tragedy by calling for urgent reforms and accountability within the military system. “i will grant no further delays; it is the lives of our young people that are at stake,” he said, warning that officials failing to meet safety and operational standards could be removed.
The crash has prompted national mourning, with political leaders and presidential candidates offering condolences while calling for a full investigation into the cause of the disaster.
The C-130 Hercules, first introduced in the 1950s, has long been a cornerstone of Colombia’s military operations, particularly in troop transport across challenging terrain during the country’s decades-long internal conflict.
Bolivia experienced a similar tragedy just weeks earlier when another C-130 aircraft crashed in El Alto, underscoring growing concerns about aging military aircraft and operational risks in the region.
As investigators begin examining the wreckage, authorities say determining the exact cause of the crash will be critical in preventing future tragedies.
