A Lockheed C-130H Hercules military transport aircraft of the Bolivian Air Force crashed on Friday evening (27) after landing at El Alto International Airport in La Paz.
According to preliminary information from local authorities, the accident claimed at least 20 lives and approximately 30 injured.
The aircraft, identified as FAB-81, had taken off from Santa Cruz a few hours earlier, carrying newly printed notes from the Central Bank of Bolivia. According to initial reports, the C-130 managed to land, but lost control while decelerating, ran off the runway and onto a nearby road, where it collided with several vehicles.
Scattered money and chaos in place
Upon impact, bundles of banknotes were ejected from the aircraft and scattered around the crash site. Witnesses said people in the area were trying to collect the notes, causing confusion.
Bolivian police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and increased security around the accident. The central bank said in a statement that the banknotes being transported have not yet been put into circulation and therefore have no legal value.
Weather conditions and investigations
The accident occurred in adverse weather conditions in the El Alto area, which is more than 4,000 meters above sea level — one of the highest international airports in the world, which poses additional operational challenges for aircraft.
Military sources said the C-130H Hercules aircraft involved underwent an upgrade in 2024. The Bolivian Air Force has launched an investigation to clarify the cause of the accident, including the possible influence of bad weather and possible technical malfunctions.
Rescue teams worked throughout the night to free the victims and provide aid to the injured, who were taken to hospitals in the La Paz metropolitan area.
The authorities have not yet published an official list of victims, and the number of dead and injured may be updated in the coming hours according to the progress of the search and identification work.
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Source and images: OSINTdefender, X @sentdefender. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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
