Colombia Military Plane Crash Kills 66 Troops

BOGOTA, Colombia (Azat TV) – A Colombian Air Force Hercules C-130 transport plane crashed shortly after taking off Monday from Puerto Leguizamo, in the southern Putumayo province, killing at least 66 people and injuring dozens more, officials confirmed. The aircraft was carrying 128 individuals, primarily soldiers, along with crew members.

Hercules C-130 Crashes Near Puerto Leguizamo

The military transport plane went down approximately 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) from the airport in Puerto Leguizamo, a remote municipality in Colombia’s Amazonian region bordering Ecuador and Peru. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the crash occurred during takeoff while transporting troops. Images from the scene showed a large plume of smoke rising from the wreckage in a field surrounded by dense foliage. Ammunition on board detonated following the crash, exacerbating the fire.

Casualties and Rescue Efforts

General Hugo Alejandro López Barreto, the head of Colombia’s armed forces, reported that 66 military personnel died in the tragic accident, with four individuals still missing. Fifty-seven people were evacuated from the crash site. Local residents of Puerto Leguizamo immediately assisted emergency workers, with videos circulating online showing soldiers being transported from the scene on motorcycles driven by civilians. The injured were treated at local clinics before being flown to larger hospitals in Bogota and other cities. Two aircraft equipped with 74 beds were dispatched to facilitate the evacuation of the wounded.

Investigation and President’s Response

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the Air Force commander, Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda. Initial reports indicate no signs of an attack by illegal armed groups. President Gustavo Petro expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a “horrendous accident” that “should not have happened.” He used the tragedy to reiterate his commitment to modernizing the country’s military equipment, citing “bureaucratic difficulties” that have obstructed his plans. Petro suggested that officials not meeting the challenge of modernization should be removed. Critics, however, have pointed to budget cuts under his administration that have reportedly reduced flight hours for military aircraft, potentially leading to less experienced crews.

Aircraft History and Expert Analysis

The Hercules C-130 involved in the crash was donated to Colombia by the United States in 2020 and underwent a detailed overhaul, including engine inspection and component replacement, three years prior. Aviation expert Erich Saumeth commented that he did not believe the crash was due to a lack of good parts, emphasizing that investigations would need to determine the specific cause of the engine failure shortly after takeoff. This incident marks one of the deadliest accidents in recent history for Colombia’s Air Force.

The immediate focus on President Petro’s calls for military modernization, following the crash, highlights the ongoing tension between the administration’s reform agenda and the operational realities faced by the armed forces, particularly in the context of budget constraints and equipment upkeep.