A Hercules plane, intended for the transport of soldiers, crashed near the town of Puerto Leguízamo in the province of Putumayo, reports Index.
#AEstaHora | Un avión tipo Hércules de la Fuerza Aérea se precipitó a tierra en zona rural de Puerto Leguízamo, en el departamento del Putumayo, en un hecho que es materia de investigación.
De acuerdo con los primeros reports, los occupantes de la aeronave, todos integrantes… pic.twitter.com/30y6sdH6Lh
— Canal TRO (@CanalTRO) March 23, 2026
So far, there is no official information on the number of passengers, but local media reports that there were dozens of them.
Rescue teams were sent to the scene of the accident.
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez said the plane suffered a “tragic accident on takeoff from Puerto Leguízam, while carrying members of the security forces.”
He did not specify whether there were any victims, but described the event as “deeply sad for the country”.
Local media BluRadio, citing the authorities, announced that there were 110 soldiers on the plane and that the accident happened only 3 kilometers from the city.
#Attention Se conoce el momento exacto del accidente aero de un airplane Hércules de la Fuerza Aérea Colombiana en Puerto Leguízamo, Putumayo. Información preliminar indica que iban al menos 110 soldados. Por ahora, es incierto el número de personas fallecidas. #VocesySonidos pic.twitter.com/lUpraerIa3
— BluRadio Colombia (@BluRadioCo) March 23, 2026
The plane’s maker, US-based Lockheed Martin, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At the end of February, another C-130 Hercules of the Bolivian Air Force crashed in the densely populated city of Alto, narrowly avoiding an apartment block. More than 20 people died and another 30 were injured.
Autoridades confirmaron que 110 soldados iban a bordo del avion Hércules que se accidentó en Putumayo, a unos 3 kilometers del casco urbano, tras despegar en un vuelo de apoyo militar. #VocesySonidos pic.twitter.com/pZsmW3rw7V
— BluRadio Colombia (@BluRadioCo) March 23, 2026
Banknotes carried by the plane scattered across the city, sparking clashes between residents and security forces.
(Vijesti.ba)
