SRINAGAR: The death toll from a Colombian military aircraft crash in the Putumayo region has climbed to 66, with 57 others injured, local media reported, citing military sources.
Siento mucho dolor por los hijos perdidos, 34 jóvenes muertos por defender a Colombia. En el año 2020 compraron una chatarra y se cayó, vamos a ver ¿por qué?
Gobiernos que hinchan el pecho con puras plumas y lentejuelas. Disparan balas en las palabras pero compran pura chatarra…
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) March 24, 2026
The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members, Carlos Silva said in a video shared by the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) on X. He added that an investigative team has been deployed to determine the cause of the crash, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said in a post on X that the status of more than 40 people on board remains unknown. In a separate video statement, Air Force Commander Fernando Silva confirmed the number of passengers and crew, adding that authorities are investigating the incident.
Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez said the aircraft crashed during take-off from Puerto Leguizamo, near the Peru border. He noted that military units were deployed to the site and that the cause of the accident has yet to be established. Sanchez also conveyed his “sincere condolences” to the families of the victims and said support protocols had been activated for those affected.
Some of the injured were airlifted to Bogota for treatment. Petro described the crash as an incident that “should never have happened” and pointed to shortcomings in military modernisation, attributing them to bureaucratic challenges. He also thanked civilians who rushed to assist at the crash site.
According to manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the aircraft was a C-130H model, part of a series that first entered service in 1965. The plane had been donated to the Colombian Air Force by the United States in 2020.
Videos circulating on social media showed the aircraft entering a steep dive shortly after take-off, while footage cited by BluRadio showed thick smoke rising from the crash site. The visuals have not been independently verified, though reports indicated the crash occurred about three kilometres from a populated area.
