At least 66 people have been killed and dozens injured after a Colombian military aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in the country’s south, officials say.
The C-130 Hercules, operated by the Colombian Air Force, went down on Monday near Puerto Leguízamo, a remote municipality in the Amazonian province of Putumayo, close to the borders with Ecuador and Peru.
According to Colombia’s Ministry of Defence, the aircraft was carrying 125 people when it crashed just 1.5 kilometres from the runway, scattering burning wreckage across the jungle floor. Ammunition on board detonated on impact, causing a large fire.
Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez said there was no indication of an attack by illegal armed groups, dismissing early speculation about sabotage.
“The aircraft struck the ground shortly after takeoff,” he said, adding that investigations were underway to determine the cause of the crash.
The head of Colombia’s armed forces, General Hugo Alejandro López Barreto, confirmed that four military personnel remain missing, while dozens of survivors are receiving medical treatment.
Local authorities said the town’s two small clinics were overwhelmed as they treated the injured before evacuating them to hospitals in Bogotá and other major cities. The Colombian Air Force deployed additional aircraft equipped with medical beds to assist in the evacuation.
Footage shared on social media showed thick black smoke rising from the crash site as emergency crews worked to recover bodies and secure the area.
Colombia has operated C-130 Hercules aircraft since the late 1960s, with several models modernised in recent years through cooperation with the United States.
The crash marks one of the deadliest aviation incidents involving Colombia’s military in recent decades.
Authorities have declared a period of mourning as forensic teams continue identification efforts and investigators examine possible mechanical or operational failures.
The Kaminuza Star / David RUTARE