24 March,2026 09:51 AM IST | Bogota | mid-day online correspondent
The crash reportedly occurred during takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo, a town located near Colombia’s border with Peru. Pic/AFP
The death toll from Colombian military aircraft crash in the southern Putumayo region reached to 66 on Tuesday, with at least 57 others injured, according to local media reports citing military sources, reported the IANS.
The aircraft, a C-130 Hercules transport plane, was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members at the time of the incident.
Carlos Silva, commander of the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC), confirmed in a video statement that the plane was heavily occupied when it went down. The aircraft, identified as a C-130H Hercules model, is an older variant that first entered service in 1965 and had been donated to Colombia by the United States Air Force in 2020, according to the IANS.
The crash reportedly occurred during takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo, a town located near Colombia's border with Peru.
Emergency response teams were quickly deployed to the crash site, with military units leading rescue operations. Several injured soldiers have since been airlifted to Bogota for urgent medical treatment, the news agency reported.
Authorities have stated that the condition of more than 40 individuals onboard remains unconfirmed, raising concerns that the casualty figures could rise further.
According to the IANS, Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his "sincere condolences" to the victims' families and confirmed that all emergency care protocols have been activated. He also stated that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.
President Gustavo Petro described the crash as an event that "should never have happened," criticising delays in the modernisation of the country's armed forces, which he attributed to bureaucratic challenges.
An official investigative team has been dispatched to analyse the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show the aircraft entering a steep dive shortly after takeoff. Additional footage reportedly captured thick smoke rising from the wreckage after impact. Local sources suggest the crash occurred just 3 kilometres from a populated area, increasing the potential risk to civilians.
These visuals, however, have not yet been independently verified, the news agency reported.
(with IANS inputs)
