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.
The accident killed at least 20 people and left around 30 injured, according to preliminary information from local authorities.
The plane, identified as FAB-81, had taken off from Santa Cruz a few hours earlier with newly printed banknotes from the Central Bank of Bolivia on board. According to initial reports, the C-130 managed to land, but during braking the crew lost control, the aircraft skidded off the runway and ended up on a nearby road, hitting several vehicles.
Banknotes scattered and chaos on the spot
Upon impact, bundles of banknotes were thrown from the aircraft and scattered over the accident area. Witnesses said people nearby tried to pick up the notes, leading to a commotion.
Bolivian police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and increased security around the area. The Central Bank stated in a statement that the banknotes transported had not yet been put into circulation and therefore had no legal value.
Weather conditions and exploration
The accident occurred in difficult weather conditions in the El Alto region, which is located at an altitude of over 4,000 meters — one of the world’s highest international airports, which poses additional operational challenges for aircraft.
Military sources said the aircraft involved is a C-130H Hercules, which underwent a 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 possible technical failures.
Rescue teams worked throughout the night to rescue victims and help the injured, who were transported to hospitals in the La Paz area.
Authorities have not yet released an official list of victims, and the death toll as well as the number of injured may be updated in the coming hours as search and identification efforts continue.
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Source and images: OSINTdefender, X @sentdefender. This content is created with the help of AI 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
