Colombian Military Plane Crash Claims 69 Lives, Injures 57

A Colombian military transport plane crashed during takeoff, resulting in 69 fatalities and 57 injuries. The incident occurred in the southern region of the country, near Puerto Leguízamo, a town in the Putumayo area that shares a border with Peru. The C-130 Hercules aircraft disintegrated upon impact and ignited flames, according to the armed forces.

Details of the Crash and Onboard Personnel

The military confirmed 126 individuals were aboard, comprising 113 soldiers, two police officers, and 11 crew members. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez noted the crash’s cause is still being analyzed, adding there is no evidence of a criminal group attack. He also emphasized the plane was in working order and the crew was properly trained.

“The crash should never have happened,” stated Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who expressed concern over the armed forces’ delayed modernization, citing bureaucratic challenges.

Video Evidence and Crash Site Conditions

A CNN-geolocated video captures the military plane departing Caucaya Airport and flying over rural terrain shortly before the crash. The footage suggests the accident took place within two miles of the airport. At the scene, thick black smoke and intense flames were visible, as reported by witnesses.

Survivors and Rescue Efforts

Nicolas Ordoñez, an indigenous ranger assisting in the rescue, shared that several survivors were transported to a nearby hospital. Some wounded soldiers were evacuated to Bogotá for further medical care. Sánchez extended condolences to the families of the victims.

Historical Context and Aircraft Background

The plane, a C-130H Hercules, is an older variant of the C-130 series, which began service in March 1965. It was donated to the Colombian Air Force by the US Air Force in September 2020. These cargo planes are designed for operation in remote and challenging conditions.

This incident marks the most recent fatal aviation accident in Colombia. In late January, another plane crashed near Cúcuta in the northeast, killing all 126 passengers, including congressman Diógenes Quintero, just nine minutes after takeoff. The story has been updated with additional information.

CNN’s Stefano Pozzebon, Avery Schmitz, and Ivonne Valdés contributed to this report.