A Lockheed C-130H Hercules military transport aircraft from the Bolivian Air Force crashed on Friday evening (27) after landing at El Alto International Airport in La Paz.
The accident led to at least 20 deaths and around 30 injuries, according to preliminary information from local authorities.
The plane, identified as FAB-81, had taken off from Santa Cruz a few hours earlier with freshly printed notes from the Central Bank of Bolivia on board. According to initial reports, the C-130 landed safely, but lost control during deceleration, skidded off the runway and landed on a nearby road, striking several vehicles.
Banknotes scattered and chaos on the spot
During the impact, piles of banknotes were thrown from the plane and scattered over the accident area. Witnesses stated that people nearby tried to collect the money, which led to unrest.
Bolivian police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and beefed up security around the site. The Central Bank stated in a statement that the banknotes that were transported had not yet been put into circulation and therefore had no legal value.
Weather conditions and investigation
The accident occurred in difficult weather conditions in the El Alto region, which is more than 4,000 meters above sea level — one of the world’s highest international airports, which creates additional operational challenges for aircraft.
Military sources stated that the aircraft involved is a C-130H Hercules undergoing modernization in 2024. The Bolivian Air Force has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, including the possible influence of bad weather and any technical failures.
Rescue crews worked throughout the night to retrieve victims and help the injured, who were transported to hospitals in the La Paz area.
The authorities have not yet released an official list of the victims, and the number of dead and injured may be updated in the coming hours as the search and identification work continues.
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Source and images: OSINTdefender, X @sentdefender. This content has been created with the help of KI and reviewed by the editors.
A C-130H Hercules with the Bolivian Air Force crashed earlier this evening on a major roadway outside of El Alto International Airport in La Paz, Bolivia, killing 15 and injuring more than 30. The C-130, which had departed from Santa Cruz several hours before carrying new… pic.twitter.com/uP1VTAaFNb
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 28, 2026
