A Bolivian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules military transport plane crashed Friday night (27) after landing at El Alto International Airport in La Paz.
According to preliminary information from the local authorities, at least 20 people died and around 30 were injured in the accident.
The plane, identified as FAB-81, had departed from Santa Cruz a few hours earlier, carrying freshly printed banknotes of the Central Bank of Bolivia. Initial reports indicated that the C-130 landed successfully, but lost control while braking, ran off the runway and drifted onto a nearby road where it collided with several vehicles.
Scattered money and chaos at the site
The impact sent wads of bank notes flying out of the aircraft and scattered across the crash site. According to eyewitness accounts, bystanders tried to collect the money, which led to a riot.
Bolivian police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and beefed up security in the area. In a statement, the Central Bank indicated that the delivered banknotes have not yet been put into circulation, so they have no legal tender value.
Weather conditions and examination
The accident occurred in adverse weather conditions in the El Alto region, which is located at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters above sea level — one of the highest international airports in the world, which poses additional operational challenges for aircraft.
According to military sources, the aircraft involved is a C-130H Hercules that underwent a 2024 upgrade. The Bolivian Air Force has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, including the possible role of bad weather and possible technical failures.
Rescue teams worked throughout the night to remove the victims and treat the injured, who were transported to hospitals in the metropolitan area of La Paz.
The authorities have not yet published the official list of victims, and the number of dead and injured may be updated in the coming hours as research and identification work progresses.
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Source and images: OSINTdefender, X @sentdefender. The content is created with the help of artificial intelligence and verified 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
