A Colombian military transport plane carrying 121 passengers and crew crashed in the southwestern region of the country. So far, 1 death and 77 injuries have been confirmed.
On 23 Mar 2026 GMT+7, a Colombian military transport plane, a Hercules C-130, carrying 121 people—mostly soldiers—crashed shortly after takeoff in southwestern Colombia, resulting in at least 1 death and 77 injuries.
Pedro Sanchez, Colombia's Minister of Defense, posted on X that this "tragic accident" occurred in Puerto Leguizamo, a remote municipality in Putumayo province in the Amazon basin, bordering neighboring countries Peru and Ecuador.
Images shared online by Colombian news agencies showed black smoke rising from a field at the crash site, with military trucks rushing to the scene.
The Air Force stated in a press release that at least 77 injured people have been rescued from the crash site, and rescue operations are ongoing. The military command confirmed at least 1 fatality, as posted online by Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
The Air Force reported that all 121 people on board included 110 soldiers and 11 crew members. The plane was transporting troops to another city within Putumayo province. Initial reports had indicated 125 people onboard.
Carlos Fernando Silva, Commander of the Colombian Air Force, said details of the crash remain unclear, except that the plane encountered problems and crashed about 2 kilometers from the airport.
The Air Force Commander added that two aircraft with 74 hospital beds were dispatched to the area to evacuate the injured to hospitals in the capital, Bogota, and other locations. The fate of other passengers and crew has not yet been disclosed.
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Source:cna