BOGOTA — The death toll from a Colombian Air Force plane crash has risen to 66, nearly doubling earlier figures, as rescue teams continued recovering bodies from the wreckage, military sources said.
The incident, involving a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, is among the deadliest aviation disasters in recent years for Colombia’s armed forces. Dozens of others were injured, with some in critical condition.
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According to Pedro Sanchez, the aircraft was attempting to take off from Puerto Leguizamo, a remote area near the Peru border, when it encountered trouble. Initial reports suggest the plane struck near the end of the runway before losing control. Witnesses said one of its wings clipped a tree as it descended, triggering a fire and explosions believed to be caused by onboard munitions.
The death toll from the crash of a C-130 military transport plane in Colombia’s Putumayo Department has risen to 66.
At this time, 66 fatalities have been confirmed, 58 of them are from the National Army, six from the Colombian Aerospace Force, and two from the National Police,… pic.twitter.com/948cRSnPOk
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Local residents were the first to reach the crash site, transporting injured soldiers on motorcycles through rough terrain. Emergency crews later arrived, but difficult access to the area slowed rescue and recovery efforts.
The Colombian Air Force had initially reported 121 people onboard, including 110 soldiers and 11 crew members. Authorities have yet to clarify discrepancies between passenger figures and casualty counts.
President Gustavo Petro expressed condolences and called for accountability, criticizing delays in military modernization efforts. He warned that inefficiencies within civilian and military administration could no longer be tolerated, stressing the need to protect service members. Lockheed Martin, the aircraft’s manufacturer, said it would assist in the investigation.
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The Hercules C-130, first introduced in the 1950s, remains a key component of Colombia’s military logistics, widely used to transport troops and supplies amid the country’s long-running internal conflict. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash.