The incident occurred shortly after the Hercules C-130 aircraft took off from a base in Puerto Leguizamo, located on the border with Peru, as reported by the press attaché of the Colombian army. The commander of the country's Air Force, Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda, clarified that there were 114 military personnel and 11 crew members on board.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro reported that 77 injured individuals have already been taken to the hospital, while 43 people are still listed as missing.
Rescue operations are ongoing: rescuers are examining the wreckage of the aircraft and surveying the area where the disaster occurred.
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed the presence of military personnel on board and stated that the aircraft crashed just one and a half kilometers from the airfield. He also noted that an explosion of ammunition occurred due to a fire inside the aircraft. According to the minister, there are no signs of an attack by armed groups in the area.
Media outlets are publishing photos and videos from the scene, showing local residents helping injured soldiers and transporting them on motorcycles to hospitals.
In his message on platform X, Gustavo Petro indicated that the cause of the disaster was "bureaucratic issues" that hinder the modernization of military equipment, including aircraft. He promised to prevent further delays, emphasizing the need to save the lives of young people.
In February, a similar C-130 Hercules aircraft of American manufacture crashed in Bolivia while transporting money.
The governor of the Putumayo region also confirmed that at least 34 people died. However, according to military sources, the AFP agency reports that the total number of victims could reach 66, including 58 soldiers, six Air Force personnel, and two police officers.
