At least 66 people have been confirmed dead following a devastating military plane crash in Colombia, after an aircraft carrying over 120 personnel went down shortly after takeoff.
The C-130 Hercules—a widely used military transport plane—crashed moments after departing from Puerto Leguizamo, a remote area near the borders with Ecuador and Peru. The aircraft was transporting soldiers and crew to a nearby Amazon outpost when it plunged into the jungle, leaving wreckage scattered and engulfed in flames.
Military sources reported that the victims included dozens of soldiers, air force personnel, and police officers. Several others sustained injuries, with emergency teams racing against time to evacuate survivors and recover bodies under difficult conditions.
Authorities say investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash, though no official explanation has yet been confirmed. Defense officials described the incident as a national tragedy, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life.
Gustavo Petro called the घटना a “horrific accident” and stressed the need to modernize the country’s military equipment, though he stopped short of linking the crash directly to mechanical failure.
Local residents recounted hearing a loud explosion before seeing the aircraft lose altitude. Images from the scene showed civilians gathering near the wreckage as smoke billowed over the forest.
Rescue operations have been complicated by the remote location and limited infrastructure in the region. According to local officials, the small airport and challenging terrain have made it difficult to transport the injured and retrieve the deceased.
The crash occurred in an area that has recently seen increased military activity due to operations targeting drug cartels and armed groups operating along the border.
This incident marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the region in recent times and comes just weeks after another C-130 Hercules crash in South America, raising renewed concerns over aviation safety and aging military fleets.
As investigations continue, the country mourns the lives lost in a tragedy that has sent shockwaves across the nation.
