Home / Disasters and Accidents / Colombia Plane Crash Kills 66 Troops
Colombia Plane Crash Kills 66 Troops
24 Mar
Summary
- A military transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 66 people.
- The plane was carrying 128 people, mostly soldiers, from Puerto Leguizamo.
- The cause of the crash is under investigation, with no immediate signs of attack.
A military transport plane carrying 128 people, primarily soldiers, crashed shortly after taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia. The tragic accident claimed the lives of at least 66 individuals, with dozens more injured. Four military personnel remained unaccounted for following the crash.
Initial investigations by Colombian military officials suggest no indications of an attack by illegal armed groups. The aircraft, identified as a Hercules C-130 donated by the United States in 2020, had undergone an overhaul in 2023. The focus is now on determining why the engines failed so soon after departure.
Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed profound sorrow over the incident, which occurred in the Amazonian province of Putumayo, bordering Ecuador and Peru. The crash has prompted President Petro to reiterate his call for modernizing military equipment, citing bureaucratic obstacles. Critics, however, point to budget cuts reducing flight hours for military aircraft under his administration.
Emergency services in Puerto Leguizamo immediately responded, with local clinics treating the injured before they were transported to larger cities. Two planes with 74 beds were dispatched to fly the injured to hospitals in Bogotá and other locations, highlighting the significant logistical response to the disaster.
