Scores killed as Colombian military plane crashes on takeoff

Colombian Military Plane Crash Claims 69 Lives During Takeoff

A Colombian military transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in the southern region of the country, leaving at least 69 fatalities and 57 injured, reported by the nation’s armed forces. The C-130 Hercules plane disintegrated upon impact and ignited flames near Puerto Leguízamo, a town in the Putumayo area adjacent to the border with Peru.

Details on Board and Crew

Of the 126 individuals aboard, 113 were army personnel, two were police officers, and 11 were crew members, as disclosed by military officials. The crash’s origin is still under examination, with Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez stating there is no evidence pointing to an attack by criminal groups. He further emphasized that the aircraft was in safe operating condition and the crew was appropriately trained.

Sánchez remarked that the crash’s cause remains under investigation, noting the absence of any indication of sabotage by criminal entities.

Video Evidence and Crash Site

A CNN-geolocated video captures the military plane departing Caucaya Airport and traversing over a rural area moments before the accident. The footage suggests the crash occurred within less than two miles of the airport. At the scene, thick black smoke and intense flames were visible as debris spread across the area.

Indigenous ranger Nicolas Ordoñez, participating in rescue efforts in Leguízamo, informed CNN that several survivors were transported to a nearby hospital. Injured soldiers were also evacuated to Bogotá for medical care. Sánchez extended his condolences to the families of the victims.

Aircraft Background and Recent Incidents

The plane, a C-130H Hercules, is an older variant of the C-130 series, which began service in March 1965, as per manufacturer Lockheed Martin. It was donated to the Colombian Air Force by the U.S. Air Force in September 2020. These cargo planes are commonly utilized for their ability to operate in challenging and remote conditions.

This incident marks another tragic aviation event in Colombia’s recent history. Earlier in January, a similar crash near Cúcuta in the northeast resulted in the deaths of all passengers, including congressman Diógenes Quintero. The story has been updated with contributions from CNN’s Stefano Pozzebon, Avery Schmitz, and Ivonne Valdés.