66 Dead in Colombian Military Plane Crash; President Shares Wreckage Footage

VoM News Desk | March 24, 2026 | 08:58 AM IST | Breaking News, World | Follow on Google News

66 Dead in Colombian Military Plane Crash; President Shares Wreckage Footage

At least 66 people have been killed in a military plane crash in Colombia, which occurred just after takeoff. This has been one of Colombia’s deadliest plane crashes in recent times.

The military plane, which was a C-130 Hercules, crashed just a few minutes after taking off from Puerto Leguízamo, which is near the borders of Ecuador and Peru. The plane crashed in a jungle region, causing burning pieces of wreckage. This has made rescue operations more complicated.

Heavy Casualties Among Troops

A total of 125 people were on board the plane, including 114 troops and 11 crew members. Reports suggest that at least 66 people have been killed, including soldiers, air force personnel, and police officers. There are also several injuries.

The injured were immediately taken to local hospitals. However, rescue operations were hindered by the remote location of the region.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro shared a video of a plane attempting to ascend but crashed. President Gustavo Petro described the plane crash as a “horrific accident.”

The President also emphasized the need for the country to update its military equipment, though he did not specifically point to the technical failure of the aircraft as the reason for the accident.

It is too early to pinpoint the exact cause of the accident, according to the authorities and the Defence Minister, Pedro Sanchez.

The accident scene is located in an area that has been a conflict zone in recent times, with military activities increasing against the drug trade syndicates in the area. The authorities faced a problem in transporting the bodies and treating the injured due to the small airport and the thick jungle.

This is the second accident involving a Hercules aircraft in South America in the past month, and it has sparked fresh concerns about the safety of the aircraft, which has a reputation for being a reliable aircraft and is commonly used by militaries around the world.

A full-scale inquiry into the accident is underway as the nation grieves the loss of its personnel.

VoM News Desk

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