IRIA News

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A military transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in southern Colombia on March 23, 2026, killing at least 66 people and leaving dozens injured in one of the country’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.

The plane went down near the remote town of Puerto Leguizamo, located in the Amazon region close to the borders with Ecuador and Peru. Officials said the aircraft was carrying mostly military personnel at the time of the crash.

Colombia’s armed forces chief, General Hugo Alejandro Lopez Barreto, confirmed that 66 members of the armed forces had died in the crash. “Sadly, as a consequence of this tragic accident, 66 of our military elements died,” he said, adding that four personnel were still missing.

The aircraft was carrying 128 people, including 115 army personnel, 11 crew members, and two members of the national police. Authorities said 57 people were evacuated from the crash site, many with injuries.

Search and rescue teams continued to comb through the wreckage as hopes faded of finding additional survivors.

Officials said there were no early indications that the crash was caused by hostile action, despite the region’s history of armed group activity. “At the moment, we have no information or indications that it was an attack by an illegal armed group,” Barreto said.

Videos posted on social media by Colombian newspaper El Tiempo showed a huge fire in a field and soldiers rushing to the scene, on foot and in trucks, to assist in the rescue efforts.

🔴ATENCIÓN En la mañana de este 23 de marzo se confirmó un accidente aéreo fatal en Puerto Leguízamo, Putumayo.

Imágenes del siniestro 📹

Amplíe esta noticia aquí ⬇️https://t.co/M3njoa0B2Z pic.twitter.com/7kd0kI6oKP

— EL TIEMPO (@ELTIEMPO) March 23, 2026

Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez echoed that assessment, describing the incident as “a tragic accident” and urging the public to avoid speculation.

He added: “I express my sincerest condolences to the families of those affected and, out of respect for their grief, I urge everyone to avoid speculation until official information is available.”

Crash Occurred Shortly After Takeoff

According to Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva, the aircraft experienced a problem moments after departure. “Except that the plane had a problem and went down about two kilometers from the airport,” Silva said, noting that the exact cause remains under investigation.

The aircraft involved was a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, a widely used military transport plane known for carrying troops and equipment. The model has been in service globally since the 1950s and was first acquired by Colombia decades ago.

Emergency Response and Local Support

Footage shared by local media showed a large plume of black smoke rising from a field surrounded by dense vegetation where the aircraft crashed.

Residents of Puerto Leguizamo were among the first to respond, helping transport injured soldiers on motorcycles and assisting efforts to extinguish fires caused by the crash.

Deputy Mayor Carlos Claros said the town’s limited medical facilities were quickly overwhelmed. “I want to thank the people of Puerto Leguizamo who came out to help the victims of this accident,” he told local television.

He added that the injured were initially treated in the town’s two small clinics before being flown to larger hospitals in other cities, including the capital. The Colombian Air Force dispatched additional aircraft equipped with medical facilities to evacuate the wounded to hospitals in Bogotá and other regions.

Government Response and Political Debate

President Gustavo Petro reacted to the crash by renewing calls to modernize the country’s military equipment.

In a statement, Petro suggested that delays in upgrading aircraft and defense systems may have contributed to broader safety concerns. “If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to the challenge, they must be removed,” he said.

The president has long argued that bureaucratic obstacles have slowed efforts to improve the military’s aging fleet.

However, critics of the administration pointed to recent budget cuts that they say have reduced flight hours for military aircraft, potentially affecting pilot experience and operational readiness.

Questions Over Aircraft and Maintenance

Aviation experts have said the aircraft involved had undergone significant maintenance in recent years. The plane, donated by the United States in 2020, reportedly underwent a comprehensive overhaul three years later, including engine inspections and replacement of key components.

He noted that investigators would focus on why the aircraft’s engines may have failed shortly after takeoff, particularly given that the Hercules is equipped with four propellers designed for reliability.

The crash marks one of the most serious aviation disasters involving Colombia’s military in recent history.
It also follows another fatal air incident earlier this year, when a smaller passenger plane crashed in northern Colombia, killing all 15 people on board.

More broadly, the crash comes amid heightened attention to aviation safety in the region. Just last month, a Bolivian Air Force C-130 crashed in El Alto, killing at least 20 people.

Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash, with early efforts focused on mechanical failure and operational factors. Defense Minister Sanchez described the tragedy as “profoundly painful for the country,” adding: “We hope that our prayers can help to relieve some of the pain.”