Agencies | Bogotá: The death toll from a tragic military plane crash in southern Colombia has risen to 66, with at least 57 others injured, following the crash of a C-130 Hercules aircraft in the Putumayo region.
According to officials, the aircraft—operated by the Colombian Aerospace Force—was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members when it went down shortly after takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo, near the Peru border. Authorities have confirmed that more than 40 individuals remain unaccounted for.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the दुर्घटना, with an expert team deployed to the crash site. Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez said emergency response teams were immediately mobilised, and all necessary protocols have been activated to assist victims and their families.
President Gustavo Petro expressed deep grief over the tragedy, stating that the incident “should never have happened” and raising concerns over delays in military modernisation. He also acknowledged the efforts of rescue teams and locals who rushed to aid survivors.
Several injured personnel have been airlifted to hospitals in Bogotá for advanced treatment. Visuals circulating on social media show the aircraft plunging shortly after takeoff, followed by thick plumes of smoke rising from the wreckage.
The ill-fated aircraft, identified as a C-130H Hercules—an older model first introduced in the 1960s—had reportedly been inducted into service after being transferred from the United States in 2020.
The tragedy has sparked renewed debate over the condition of ageing military equipment, even as authorities continue rescue and recovery operations in the region.
