He military plane crash this Monday in the southwest of Colombia let 66 dead and dozens injuredwhich makes it one of the worst that occurred in this country, he told the AFP a source of Military forces.
The aircraft Herculesmade in the United States, fell to the ground with 125 occupants at 10:00 local time shortly after takeoff in Puerto Leguizamonear the border with Peru y Ecuadorfor reasons that are still unknown.
Among the dead are 58 soldiers, six members of the air force and two police officers, according to the military source, who did not specify the number of injured.
images of the AFP They capture the remains of the plane wrapped in flames and smoke, in the middle of the vegetation. Farmers in the area said they heard a “roar.”
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“I felt an explosion in the air and, when I looked, the plane was coming close to the house on my plot,” said the farmer. Noah Mota.
Rebel groups operate in that area and there are large quantities of coca crops. Rescue teams are deployed in the area.
The president Gustavo Petro He stated that it was a “horrible accident” and referred to the need to modernize the military fleet, in a message on X in which he published images showing how the aircraft tries to gain altitude before collapsing.
The armies of Colombia and Ecuador are fighting the powerful drug cartels that operate in the border area, where there has been heavy military activity and bombings in recent weeks.
No signs of attack in Colombia
The Minister of Defense, Pedro Sanchezexpressed in X his “deep regret” for the accident. The causes have not yet been confirmed but, according to Sánchez, “there are no indications of an attack by illegal actors.”
“As a result of the aircraft fire, part of the ammunition transported by the troops detonated.”
That “corresponds to what is heard in some videos that circulate on social networks,” he explained.
This is the second accident of a C-130 Hercules plane in South America in less than a month.
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A Bolivian military cargo plane carrying bank notes crashed upon landing near Peace he February 27y left at least 24 dead.
The Hercules is a four-engine turboprop aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
Known for its ability to operate from improvised landing strips, it is widely used by armies around the world and can transport everything from troops to vehicles.
The governments of Ecuador, Venezuela y USAa key military partner of Colombia, regretted the accident and offered condolences to the families of the victims.
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