A Colombian military transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff in the southern region of the country. Vice President Francia Márquez Mina confirmed it was carrying over 100 personnel when it went down.
The incident involved a C-130 Hercules and happened in Puerto Leguízamo, a town near the Peruvian border. The cause of the crash is still unknown, as stated by Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The aircraft had 114 passengers and 11 crew members, according to General Carlos Silva, the Colombian Aerospace Force commander. Fortunately, at least 48 people were rescued from the wreckage.
A video obtained by CNN shows the military plane taking off from Caucaya Airport and flying over a rural area just before the crash. It appears the plane went down less than two miles from the airport. Images from the scene depicted thick black smoke and flames rising from the wreck.
Nicolas Ordoñez, an indigenous ranger involved in the search and rescue, mentioned that several survivors were taken to a local hospital.
In light of the tragedy, Sánchez expressed condolences to the families of those affected. President Gustavo Petro also weighed in, stating the crash “should never have happened,” citing the outdated state of the armed forces due to “bureaucratic difficulties.”
A 2021 report highlighted ongoing concerns about the modernization of Colombia’s military equipment, underlining the importance of keeping aerial operations safe. As we await more details, the community is in mourning, and discussions surrounding military readiness are reigniting.
For ongoing updates, check reliable news sources like CNN or government reports.
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