A military transport plane in Colombia carrying 128 individuals, mostly soldiers, crashed shortly after takeoff in Puerto Leguizamo, resulting in the deaths of at least 66 people and injuries to many others, according to Colombia’s armed forces. General Hugo Alejandro López Barreto mentioned that four military personnel were still unaccounted for.
Barreto expressed sorrow over the tragedy, confirming the loss of 66 military personnel in the accident and dismissing any initial suspicions of an attack by an illegal armed group. Deputy Mayor Carlos Claros reported that the victims’ bodies were transported to the local morgue, and the injured were initially treated at the town’s two clinics before being transferred to larger cities.
The incident occurred in Puerto Leguizamo, situated in Putumayo, an Amazonian province bordering Ecuador and Peru. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez revealed that the plane was en route to another city within Putumayo when the crash occurred.
Visuals circulated by Colombian media displayed a plume of black smoke rising from the crash site in a field, with soldiers swiftly responding to the scene. The aircraft carried a total of 128 passengers, including 115 army personnel, 11 crew members, and 2 National Police officers. Of these, 57 individuals were successfully evacuated from the plane.
Videos shared online depicted locals aiding injured soldiers on motorcycles, while others attempted to extinguish the fire ignited by the crash amid dense foliage. Colombia’s air force commander, Carlos Fernando Silva, indicated that the plane encountered difficulties and went down approximately two kilometers from the airport.
Silva mentioned the dispatch of two planes outfitted with 74 beds to transfer the injured to hospitals in Bogota and beyond. President Gustavo Petro used the accident to advocate for the modernization of military equipment, criticizing bureaucratic hurdles hindering such efforts and suggesting accountability for officials impeding progress.
Defense Minister Sánchez expressed deep sorrow for the nation, extending prayers for comfort amidst the tragedy. Aviation expert Erich Saumeth noted that the Hercules C-130 involved in the crash was a 2020 donation from the United States to Colombia, having undergone a comprehensive overhaul three years later to ensure its operational integrity.