COLOMBIA.— This Monday a Hercules plane of the Colombian Air Force (FAC) that transported more than a hundred soldiers crashed a few minutes after takeoff from the airport of Puerto Leguizamoin the department of Putumayo, reported the Minister of Defense, Pedro Sánchez Suárez. It is reported that there are survivors.
“It is with deep pain that I report that a Hercules plane from our @FuerzaAereaCol suffered a tragic accident while taking off from Puerto Leguízamo (Putumayo), when it was transporting troops from the Public Force,” the minister stated in his X account.
The military plane that crashed in Colombia had 125 people on board, of which 48 they survived.
“It is reported that there are more than a hundred passengers, mostly military,” said the governor of Putumayo, John Gabriel Molinain statements to Caracol Television. In addition, he confirmed that they rescued some soldiers with injuries from the remains of the device, which caught fire when it fell to the ground.
In videos broadcast on social networks, a large column of smoke in the accident area and remains of the aircraft scattered, while soldiers and residents of the sector approach the scene to help in the rescue efforts.
#ATTENTIONS. Nearly 100 people were on board an aircraft that crashed in the rural area of Putumayo on MAR 23. The fact was confirmed by Min/Defense Pedro Sánchez, who indicated that the plane was transporting troops from the Public Force and that the causes of the accident are still unknown. https://t.co/oVJhzXgiY5 pic.twitter.com/jdhQ1RlAXw
— Colombia Oscura (@ColombiaOscura) March 23, 2026
The head of the Defense portfolio added that military units are already at the scene of the accident and that care protocols for the victims and their families have been activated, as well as the corresponding investigation to clarify the causes of the incident.
The Civil Defense, a national rescue body, reported for its part that volunteers from that organization in Putumayo, “in coordination with other relief organizations, are moving and providing support in the event of an emergency,” and released a video of the wreckage of the burning plane.
Military plane crash regretted
“I express my most sincere condolences to the families of those affected and, in respect for their pain, I call on people to avoid speculation until we have official information,” added the Minister of Defense.
For his part, the Colombian president, Gustavo Petroregretted what happened and stated on his X account: “I hope we do not have deaths in this horrible accident that should not have happened.”
The Hercules C-130 aircraft of the Armed Forces are one of the most used models in the world by air forces to transport soldiers and military material, and have capacity for about 100 passengers with their weapons and ammunition.
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