Colombian military plane crash kills 66, four missing

BOGOTA: A Colombian military transport aircraft crashed during takeoff in the country’s south on Monday, killing 66 people and leaving four others unaccounted for, as rescue teams continued recovery efforts in a remote border region.

The aircraft, a Hercules C-130 built by Lockheed Martin, was carrying 128 people when it went down near Puerto Leguizamo, close to the Peruvian border. According to the head of Colombia’s armed forces, those on board included Air Force personnel, army troops and police officers.

Crash unfolded moments after takeoff

Authorities said the disaster happened just as the plane was attempting to depart. Initial accounts suggest the aircraft may have struck something near the end of the runway before losing control. A firefighter quoted by local media said one of the wings appeared to hit a tree as the plane descended.

The aircraft then burst into flames, and explosions were reported from devices being transported on board, adding to the chaos at the scene.

Survivors pulled from wreckage by local residents

People living near the crash site were among the first to respond, helping remove injured passengers before emergency teams could fully reach the area. Videos circulating online showed wounded soldiers being carried away on motorcycles along dirt tracks.

Military rescue units later arrived, but officials said difficult terrain and limited access slowed the response.

Of the survivors, dozens were taken to nearby medical facilities. Authorities said 57 injured people had been hospitalised, with around 30 reported to be in stable condition at a military clinic.

Questions grow over aging aircraft fleet

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Lockheed Martin said it would support Colombian authorities as they examine what happened.

The incident has renewed attention on Colombia’s ageing military fleet. President Gustavo Petro said he would no longer tolerate delays in efforts to modernise the armed forces, arguing that the safety of service members was at stake.

C-130 crash follows similar deadly incident in Bolivia

The Hercules C-130 has long been used across Latin America for troop and cargo transport. Colombia first acquired the aircraft decades ago, and some older planes have since been upgraded with replacement units provided by the United States.

The crash also comes just weeks after another C-130 operated by the Bolivian Air Force went down in El Alto, killing more than 20 people and injuring dozens more.