A Colombian military Hercules C-130 transport plane carrying 110 soldiers plummeted to the ground in a massive fireball moments after departing from Puerto Leguízamo in Putumayo province on Monday morning. The crash site lies near the Peruvian border, prompting an immediate response from rescue teams.
Incident Overview
The aircraft, designed for troop transport, went down approximately 3 kilometers from a nearby urban area. Authorities confirm all 110 passengers were security forces personnel.
Official Response
Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez described the event as a tragic accident during takeoff. “This deeply saddens the nation,” he stated.
Sánchez announced that protocols for victim care and family support are fully active, alongside a formal investigation. In a public statement on X, he expressed condolences: “I offer my sincerest sympathies to the affected families. Out of respect for their grief, please refrain from speculation until official details emerge.”
Recent Context
The incident echoes a late February crash involving a Bolivian Air Force Hercules C-130 in the densely populated Alto area. That accident killed more than 20 people, injured 30 others, and scattered banknotes from the cargo, sparking confrontations between locals and security personnel.
