Scores killed as Colombian military plane crashes on takeoff

Scores killed as Colombian military plane crashes on takeoff

A Colombian military transport aircraft crashed during takeoff in the southern region of the country on Monday, resulting in at least 69 fatalities and 57 injuries, reported by the nation’s armed forces. The C-130 Hercules plane disintegrated upon impact and ignited a fire near Puerto Leguízamo, a town in the Putumayo area that shares a border with Peru.

Of the 126 individuals aboard, 113 were military personnel, two were police officers, and 11 were part of the crew, as confirmed by the military. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, with Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez stating there is no evidence of an attack by criminal groups. He emphasized that the aircraft was in operational condition and the crew was “appropriately trained.”

“This incident should never have occurred,” remarked Colombian President Gustavo Petro, criticizing the lack of modernization within the armed forces, which he linked to “bureaucratic challenges.”

CNN’s geolocated video footage captures the plane departing Caucaya Airport and traversing a rural landscape shortly before the crash. The visuals suggest the disaster took place within less than two miles of the takeoff site. On-scene images revealed dense black smoke and intense flames emerging from the wreckage.

According to Nicolas Ordoñez, an indigenous ranger aiding rescue efforts in Leguízamo, several survivors were transported to a nearby hospital. Injured soldiers were also evacuated to Bogotá for medical care. Sánchez extended his sympathy to the families of the victims.

The aircraft in question was a C-130H Hercules, an earlier variant of the C-130 series that entered service in March 1965, as noted by manufacturer Lockheed Martin. It was donated to the Colombian Air Force by the US Air Force in September 2020. Despite its age, the C-130 is renowned for its ability to operate in challenging and remote environments.

This incident marks the most recent fatal aviation accident in Colombia this year. In late January, another plane crashed near Cúcuta in the northeast just nine minutes after departure, claiming the lives of all on board, including congressman Diógenes Quintero.

This story has been updated. CNN’s Stefano Pozzebon, Avery Schmitz, and Ivonne Valdés contributed to this report.