Colombia Military Plane Crash Kills 33, Leaves 81 Injured After Takeoff In Amazon Town

At least 33 people were killed and 81 others were injured after a Colombian military transport plane carrying 121 people, most of them soldiers, crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday in Puerto Leguizamo, an Amazonian town in southern Colombia, AP reported, citing the town's deputy mayor.

The Hercules C-130 aircraft went down minutes after departing, triggering a major rescue operation in the remote Putumayo province near the borders with Ecuador and Peru.

The injured were initially treated at Puerto Leguizamo's two clinics before many were flown to larger cities for further medical care, as officials continued to investigate what caused the deadly crash.

AP cites deputy mayor as death toll rises after crash

According to AP, Puerto Leguizamo Deputy Mayor Carlos Claros said in a video shared on social media that at least 33 people had died in the crash, while at least 81 others were injured. He said the bodies of the victims had been taken to the small town's morgue as rescue teams and local residents rushed to help survivors.

"I want to thank the people of Puerto Leguizamo who came out to help the victims of this accident," Claros told Colombian television station RCN.

Earlier, a military command statement posted online by Colombian President Gustavo Petro had confirmed only one death. However, the toll rose significantly as rescuers reached the crash site and more details emerged.

The Colombian Air Force later said at least 77 people were rescued from the site with injuries, while a Defence Ministry spokesperson said officials were still verifying the final number of fatalities.

C-130 carrying 121 people crashed shortly after takeoff

The Colombian Air Force said the Hercules C-130 plane had 121 people on board, including 110 soldiers and 11 crew members. Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez said the aircraft was transporting troops to another city in Putumayo when it crashed.

Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva said the plane went down around two kilometres from the airport, though the cause of the crash was not yet known.

"Except that the plane had a problem and went down about two kilometers from the airport," Silva said.

Images shared by Colombian media showed a thick black cloud of smoke rising from a field where the plane crashed. Other videos showed soldiers being moved from the area on motorcycles driven by local residents, while groups of residents tried to extinguish the fire in a field surrounded by dense foliage.

The air force also said two aircraft with 74 beds were sent to the area to airlift the injured to hospitals in Bogota and other cities.

Petro blames delays in military modernisation

President Gustavo Petro used the crash to highlight what he described as long-running delays in modernising Colombia's military aircraft and defence equipment.

"If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to the challenge, they must be removed," Petro said.

Petro said "bureaucratic difficulties" had held up his efforts to modernise the armed forces, while critics argued that military aircraft under his administration have received fewer flight hours because of budget cuts, reducing crew experience.

Experts say no immediate sign of attack, investigation underway

Colombian aviation expert and military analyst Erich Saumeth told AP that the Hercules C-130 had been donated by the United States to Colombia in 2020 and underwent a major overhaul in 2023, when its engine was inspected and key components were replaced.

"I don't think this plane crashed because of a lack of good parts," Saumeth said.

Saumeth said investigators would now need to determine why the aircraft's engines appeared to fail so quickly after takeoff.

In a post on X, Defence Minister Sánchez said there were no signs so far that the plane had been attacked by rebel groups operating near Puerto Leguizamo.

Sánchez described the accident as "profoundly painful for the country," adding: "We hope that our prayers can help to relieve some of the pain."