66 killed, dozens injured as Colombian military plane crashes after takeoff

A Colombian military plane carrying 125 soldiers and crew members on Monday, March 23,  crashed shortly after takeoff, killing at least 66 people and injuring dozens.

The C-130 Hercules aircraft went down moments after departing from Puerto Leguízamo, near the southern border with Ecuador and Peru, scattering burning wreckage across the jungle.

A military source confirmed that 58 soldiers were among the dead, alongside six air force personnel and two police officers.

The updated death toll came shortly after the local government secretary, Carlos Claros, had earlier reported 33 fatalities, noting that efforts were underway to treat and evacuate dozens of injured victims.

He added that investigators are probing the cause of the crash.

The border region where the aircraft went down has witnessed intensified military activity in recent weeks, as Colombian and Ecuadorian forces battle drug cartels and armed groups.

Defence minister Pedro Sanchez expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating that it was too early to determine the cause.

“It is a deeply painful event for the country. May our prayers bring some measure of comfort,” he said.

General Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda confirmed that 114 troops and 11 crew members were on board, travelling from Puerto Leguízamo to a nearby Amazon outpost.

Residents in the area reported hearing a loud explosion.

President Gustavo Petro shared footage showing the aircraft attempting to gain altitude before plunging to the ground.

He described the incident on X as a “horrific accident” and stressed the need to modernise Colombia’s military equipment, though he did not directly link the crash to the aircraft’s condition.

The incident marks the second C-130 Hercules crash in South America in under a month.

On February 27, a Bolivian military cargo plane carrying banknotes crashed while landing near La Paz, killing at least 24 people.

The C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop built by Lockheed Martin, is widely used by militaries worldwide for its ability to operate from rough and makeshift airstrips.