At least eight people lost their lives, and 83 others sustained injuries when a Colombian military aircraft crashed in the Putumayo region of southern Colombia. Among the injured, 14 are in critical condition, as confirmed by Putumayo Governor Jhon Gabriel Molina. The C-130 Hercules transport plane carried 114 passengers and 11 crew members, with an investigative team dispatched to ascertain the crash’s causes, stated Carlos Silva, commander of the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC).
Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez disclosed that the tragic incident occurred during takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo. Military units are present at the crash site, with investigations ongoing to determine the crash’s exact reasons. Sanchez extended heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and assured the activation of all necessary support protocols for those impacted by the crash.
Following the crash, some injured soldiers were airlifted to Bogota for medical treatment. President Gustavo Petro expressed gratitude to the individuals who promptly responded to the crash site to rescue the plane’s occupants. The aircraft involved was a C-130H Hercules, an older model of the C-130 series in service since March 1965, donated to the Colombian Air Force by the US Air Force in September 2020.
