Bogota, Mar 24: A military transport aircraft carrying 121 people, mostly soldiers, crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday in Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia, leaving at least 33 dead and over 80 injured, officials said.
Deputy Mayor Carlos Claros, in a video shared on social media, said the victims’ bodies were taken to the town’s morgue, while the injured were initially treated at local clinics before being airlifted to bigger cities. Puerto Leguizamo lies in the Putumayo region, near Colombia’s borders with Ecuador and Peru.
Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez said the aircraft was transporting troops within Putumayo at the time of the crash. Visuals circulating online showed thick black smoke rising from the crash site, with rescue teams and soldiers rushing to the area.
The Colombian Air Force stated that at least 77 people were rescued with injuries, while officials continue to verify the exact number of casualties. Earlier, a statement shared by President Gustavo Petro had confirmed at least one death before updated figures emerged.
According to authorities, the Hercules C-130 aircraft had 121 people onboard, including 110 soldiers and 11 crew members. Eyewitness videos showed local residents helping rescue injured personnel and attempting to douse the flames at the crash site.
Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva said the exact cause of the crash remains unknown but confirmed the aircraft went down about two kilometres from the airport after reporting a technical issue. Additional aircraft were dispatched to evacuate the injured to hospitals in Bogota and other cities.
President Petro called for accountability and reiterated the need to modernise military equipment, citing bureaucratic hurdles as a challenge. Meanwhile, experts noted the aircraft had undergone maintenance in recent years, suggesting investigations would focus on possible technical failure after takeoff.
Officials have ruled out any immediate signs of an attack by rebel groups, describing the incident as a tragic accident that has deeply affected the nation.
