At least 66 people have been confirmed dead after a Colombian Air Force transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday in the country’s southern Amazon region. The aircraft was carrying 125 people when the tragedy unfolded, making it one of the deadliest military aviation accidents in recent times.
Initial reports had placed the death toll lower. Luis Emilio Bustos, mayor of the nearby town of Puerto Leguizamo, had earlier told Reuters that 34 people had died. However, the Colombian military later revised the figure to 66 fatalities.
Conflicting early figures, dozens injured and missing
Authorities initially struggled to determine the full scale of the disaster. Jhon Gabriel Molina, governor of the Putumayo department, had said earlier that 34 people were killed and around 70 were injured. He also noted that 21 individuals were unaccounted for at the time, warning that the numbers could change as rescue operations progressed.
Even now, nearly two dozen people are believed to be missing. Videos circulating on social media show wreckage still burning, complicating search and rescue efforts.
Crash happened moments after takeoff
The aircraft involved was a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, a widely used military transport plane. According to officials, it crashed just 1.5 kilometres after taking off from Puerto Leguizamo.
Preliminary accounts suggest the plane may have struck the ground near the end of the runway during takeoff. A firefighter speaking to local media indicated that the aircraft also hit a tree with one of its wings as it went down.
Explosions on board made rescue difficult
The situation on the ground quickly worsened after the crash. The aircraft was reportedly carrying ammunition and explosives, which detonated upon impact. These secondary blasts created additional hazards for rescue teams and delayed immediate access to the wreckage.
Locals rushed to the site in an attempt to help survivors, while military units later arrived to assist. However, authorities said the remote and difficult terrain of the crash site significantly slowed down rescue operations.
About the aircraft and its use in Colombia
The C-130 Hercules, developed by Lockheed Martin, has been in service since the 1950s and is known for its durability and versatility in military operations. Colombia inducted its first C-130 aircraft in the late 1960s.
Today, these planes are commonly used by the Colombian military to transport troops and equipment, especially in operations linked to the country’s long-running internal conflict, which has lasted over six decades and resulted in more than 450,000 deaths.
Not the first incident involving a C-130
Although crashes involving C-130 aircraft are relatively rare, a similar incident occurred recently. At the end of February, a Bolivian Air Force C-130 crashed in El Alto, killing more than 20 people and injuring around 30 others.
