On Monday, March 23rd, in Colombia, a military plane crashed upon takeoff, as announced by the Ministry of Defense. Local media reported that about one hundred people were on board.
The crash of a military plane on Monday in southern Colombia resulted in at least 8 deaths and 83 injuries, according to local authorities. The Colombian authorities stated that the military plane, a Hercules C-130, was carrying 125 people when it crashed shortly after taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, in the Putumayo department, near the border with Ecuador.
Initially, reports indicated 48 injuries, while a source from the military suggested that the accident had caused 80 deaths.
Jhon Gabriel Molina, governor of Putumayo, shared this information in a video on Facebook, mentioning “great difficulties in evacuating the victims” from the small airport. An initial report from the military mentioned 48 injuries.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed “deep sorrow” on X platform, stating that a Colombian military Hercules aircraft “was involved in a tragic accident during takeoff (…) while transporting troops” to Puerto Leguizamo, near the border with Ecuador.
The head of the Colombian Air Force, General Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda, later provided a preliminary report during a press conference, mentioning “48 injuries” among the 114 military personnel and 11 crew members on board.
Investigation Launched
In his statement, the Defense Minister announced that an investigation has been initiated to determine the causes of the accident, which remain unknown at this time.
“Military units are already on site; however, the exact number of victims and the causes of the accident are yet to be determined,” wrote Pedro Sanchez on X. The Defense Minister described it as “a deeply painful event for the country.”
Puerto Leguizamo, a border area with Ecuador, is known for its instability. It has been a focal point of intense military activity in recent weeks, as the Colombian and Ecuadorian armies attempt to weaken armed groups involved in drug trafficking.
[Context: The crash involved a Hercules C-130 military plane carrying 125 people in Colombia. Authorities are investigating the incident.]
[Fact Check: The initial reports suggested 8 deaths and 83 injuries in the crash, conflicting with a source hinting at 80 deaths.]
