Scores killed as Colombian military plane crashes on takeoff
At Least 69 Die in Colombian Military Plane Crash During Takeoff
A Colombian military transport aircraft crashed during takeoff in the southern region of the country on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least 69 individuals and injuring 57 others, reported by the nation’s armed forces. The C-130 Hercules plane disintegrated upon impact and ignited a fire shortly after landing near Puerto Leguízamo, a settlement in the Putumayo area that shares a border with Peru.
Passengers and Crew Breakdown
According to the military, the aircraft carried 126 people, with the majority being army personnel—113 in total. Two police officers and 11 crew members were also aboard. The crash’s origin remains under investigation, with Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez stating there is no evidence pointing to an attack by criminal groups. He noted the plane was in airworthy condition and its crew was “duly qualified.”
“This crash should never have happened,” said Colombian President Gustavo Petro, reflecting on the incident and criticizing the lack of modernization in the armed forces, which he linked to “bureaucratic difficulties.”
Video Evidence and Crash Location
CNN’s geolocated footage captures the military plane departing Caucaya Airport and flying over a rural area just moments before the crash. The video suggests the incident occurred within a short distance of the airport. On-site images revealed dense black smoke and intense flames emanating from the wreckage.
Nicolas Ordoñez, an indigenous ranger participating in rescue efforts in Leguízamo, informed CNN that several survivors were transported to a nearby hospital. Some injured soldiers were airlifted to Bogotá for further treatment. Sánchez extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
Plane Details and Historical Context
The aircraft in question was a C-130H Hercules, an earlier variant of the C-130 series that entered service in March 1965, as per Lockheed Martin records. It was donated to the Colombian Air Force by the US Air Force in September 2020. These cargo planes are known for their reliability in operating across remote and challenging environments.
This incident marks another tragic aviation event in Colombia this year. In late January, a similar crash occurred near Cúcuta in the northeast, killing all 100 passengers—including congressman Diógenes Quintero—just nine minutes after departure. The story has been updated with contributions from CNN’s Stefano Pozzebon, Avery Schmitz, and Ivonne Valdés.
