Military aircraft crash in Colombia kills 66; 4 missing

At least 66 people were killed and four remain missing after a Colombian military transport aircraft crashed during takeoff on Monday, triggering a massive rescue operation in a remote border region.According to information, the aircraft, a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, was carrying 128 people, including 11 Air Force members, 115 army personnel, and two national police officers, according to armed forces chief Hugo Alejandro Lopez. Authorities said dozens of survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals as search teams combed the crash site for the missing.The accident occurred near Puerto Leguizamo, a town close to the Peru border, as the plane attempted to take off, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said. Initial findings suggest the aircraft struck an object near the end of the runway before losing control.

No descansaremos hasta esclarecer el accidente del avión Hércules C-130 de la @FuerzaAereaCol en Puerto Leguízamo. Avanza una investigación rigurosa y transparente para dar respuestas claras a las familias de nuestros héroes y a todo el país, afirmó el general William Rincón,… pic.twitter.com/SzOLK6Tvq5

— Mindefensa (@mindefensa) March 24, 2026

Firefighter Eduardo San Juan Callejas said one of the wings clipped a tree as the plane descended, leading to a fiery crash. The aircraft subsequently caught fire, with reports indicating that onboard explosives may have detonated, intensifying the blaze.Local residents were the first to reach the crash site, transporting injured personnel on motorcycles along dirt roads before emergency services arrived. Authorities later deployed military vehicles, though difficult terrain slowed rescue and recovery operations.
Officials confirmed that 57 survivors have been hospitalized, with at least 30 reported to be in stable condition at a military medical facility. The death toll nearly doubled from earlier estimates as recovery efforts continued.
President Gustavo Petro expressed frustration over delays in military modernisation, warning against bureaucratic hurdles that could compromise safety.“I will grant no further delays; it is the lives of our young people that are at stake,” Petro said, adding that officials unable to meet the challenge should be removed.Condolences poured in from candidates ahead of Colombia’s upcoming presidential election, with several calling for a thorough investigation into the crash.Manufacturer Lockheed Martin said it would assist Colombian authorities in the probe.

La renovación del armamento de las fuerzas militares es una decisión de mi presidencia desde hace años.

Las dificultades burocráticas en la administración militar no han permitido realizar el Conpes/confis desde hace un año que lo pedí.

Si los funcionarios administrativos… https://t.co/w4lXrnvqz8

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) March 23, 2026

The Hercules C-130, first introduced in the 1950s, has been a cornerstone of military logistics operations worldwide. Colombia has operated the aircraft since the late 1960s and has recently upgraded parts of its fleet with units supplied by the United States.The aircraft is widely used in Colombia’s long-running internal conflict, which has claimed more than 450,000 lives over six decades, primarily for transporting troops and equipment across difficult terrain.The tail number of the crashed plane reportedly matches one of three aircraft recently transferred from the U.S., raising questions about fleet maintenance and operational readiness.The incident follows another recent C-130 crash involving the Bolivian Air Force in El Alto, which left more than 20 people dead, highlighting growing concerns over ageing military aircraft in the region.