A Colombian military C-130 Hercules transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in the southern province of Putumayo on Monday, killing at least 66 people. The plane, carrying a large contingent of soldiers, went down near the remote Amazonian municipality of Puerto Leguizamo, close to the borders with Peru and Ecuador.
The aircraft departed from the local airport when it reported difficulties and failed to gain sufficient altitude, impacting the ground within a few kilometers of the runway. Initial reports from Colombia’s armed forces and local officials indicated the number of people on board varied between 121 and 128, including both military personnel and crew. The air force confirmed the fatalities comprised six airmen, 58 army soldiers, and two police officers, with many others injured. Rescue and evacuation operations, complicated by the remote jungle location, continued throughout the night.
Video and images from the scene showed emergency crews working amid the wreckage, with injured passengers being airlifted from the site by other aircraft. Ambulances transported survivors from the crash zone.
The aircraft was a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, a workhorse of military airlifts, which had been donated by the United States in 2020 and underwent a major overhaul in 2023. President Gustavo Petro stated the tragedy highlighted the necessity to modernize the national military fleet.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez called the incident a “tragic accident,” and officials noted there was no immediate evidence suggesting an attack by armed groups was responsible. The precise cause of the crash is under formal investigation.
The accident is one of the deadliest involving Colombia’s armed forces in recent years. The investigation will focus on the aircraft’s maintenance records, flight data, and the reported technical issues moments after takeoff from a challenging regional airport. The outcome will likely influence future procurement and maintenance strategies for the nation’s military aviation assets.
