A tragic plane crash in Colombia has killed at least 66 people after a military aircraft went down shortly after takeoff.
The aircraft, a Hercules C-130 built by Lockheed Martin, was carrying 128 people at the time of the crash. Officials said those on board included 11 Air Force members, 115 Army personnel, and two police officers.
According to military chief Hugo Alejandro Lopez, the number of deaths rose as rescue teams continued recovery efforts at the crash site. The accident occurred near Puerto Leguizamo, close to Colombia’s border with Peru, as the plane was taking off.
Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez said the aircraft likely faced a problem near the end of the runway.
Fire officials reported that one of the plane’s wings hit a tree as it lost control, causing it to crash. The aircraft then caught fire, and explosions were reported, possibly due to equipment or materials on board. Local residents were the first to reach the scene and began rescuing survivors. Videos showed injured people being transported on motorcycles along rough roads to safer areas.
Rescue teams later reached the site, but officials said the remote location made operations difficult. At least 57 survivors were taken to hospitals, with around 30 reported to be in stable condition.
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed concern over the tragedy and criticized delays in military modernization. He warned that such delays could put lives at risk and called for urgent improvements.
Several political leaders also offered condolences and demanded a full investigation into the crash. A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin said the company would assist Colombia in investigating the cause of the accident.
The Hercules C-130 aircraft has been in service since the 1950s and is widely used for military transport. Colombia has relied on such aircraft for decades, especially during its long internal conflict. The crash has raised serious concerns about aircraft safety and maintenance.
In a separate incident earlier this year, another C-130 crash in El Alto, Bolivia, also caused multiple deaths and injuries. Authorities are continuing search efforts for four missing people as the investigation into the cause of the crash continues.
