At least 66 people have been confirmed dead and dozens injured after a Colombian Air Force plane crashed shortly after takeoff in the southern part of the country, officials have said.
Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda disclosed that 114 army personnel and 11 crew members were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash.
The US-made C-130 Hercules transport plane went down near the town of Puerto Leguízamo in Putumayo province, close to the border with Peru. Emergency responders were quickly dispatched to the scene, where they searched through the wreckage for survivors.
Colombia’s Defence Minister, Pedro Sánchez, described the incident as a “tragic accident” that occurred during takeoff while the aircraft was transporting security personnel. He called the crash “deeply sad for the country.”
Initial reports indicate that a fire broke out on board, triggering an explosion of ammunition being carried by the aircraft. The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Military sources told AFP that the victims include dozens of soldiers, as well as air force personnel and police officers. Two sources also confirmed to Reuters that the death toll had reached 66, making it one of the deadliest air disasters in recent history for Colombia’s Air Force.
Images from local media showed thick smoke rising from the crash site, while trucks carrying soldiers rushed to the area. Footage circulating online also appeared to show residents helping to transport injured victims to nearby hospitals using motorbikes.
President Gustavo Petro, reacting to the tragedy in a post on X, said the accident “should not have happened” and blamed delays in efforts to modernise military equipment.
“I will allow no further delays; the lives of our young people are at stake,” he wrote, without giving details on the specific cause of the crash.
The incident comes just weeks after another C-130 Hercules crash in Bolivia, which claimed at least 20 lives. Authorities say investigations are ongoing.