A Colombian military transport plane carrying 121 people crashed in the country’s south shortly after takeoff, killing at least 66 people.
The GuardianAccording to Colombian Defense Minister pedro sanchezThe accident occurred in Puerto Legizamo, deep in the Amazon region of southern Colombia near the Peruvian border. Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130 It was said that it occurred while the aircraft was taking off.
“This incident is a great sorrow for the nation. We hope that our prayers will ease some of this pain,” Sánchez said, later adding that “the aircraft was in good flying condition and the crew was fully qualified.”
Videos shared on social media showed the moment the aircraft began to lose altitude, while other videos showed clouds of black smoke billowing from the crash site.
The aircraft was transporting Colombian military troops. At least 66 people died in this accident, and an additional 77 people were rescued with injuries. A Defense Ministry spokesman said the exact death toll was still being investigated.
Colombian media shared a video showing local residents using motorcycles to urgently transport the injured, and other residents trying to extinguish a fire that broke out in a field.
Carlos Fernando Silva The commander of the Colombian Air Force said details of the accident had not yet been revealed. All he knows is that “there was a problem with the plane and it crashed about 2km from the airport.”
The defense minister added that the cause of the accident was still under investigation, but that it did not appear to be the result of an attack by several armed groups operating in Colombia.
Lockheed Martin A spokesman said the company would support Colombia in its investigation into the accident.
Also, at the end of February, another member of the Bolivian Air Force Hercules C-130More than 20 people died and about 30 were injured in the crash in El Alto.
Photos and video: Colombian Air Force / X @MOSSADil. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
🚨 CRASH UPDATE: DEATH TOLL RISES IN COLOMBIA MILITARY PLANE CRASH
The number of fatalities has increased to 66, with 4 soldiers still missing after a military aircraft crash in Colombia.
• 128 people were on board
• 115 from the Army
• 11 crew members
• 2 from the National… pic.twitter.com/RHwPbJkCVy
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 24, 2026
