A Hercules aircraft of the Colombian Air Force crashed on Monday while taking off from Puerto Leguízamo airport in the Putumayo department, while transporting around 110 soldiers. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez Suárez confirmed the incident through his X account, expressing his deep sorrow for the tragedy. The minister also indicated that military units are already on the scene of the accident and that emergency protocols for victims and their families have been activated. “The exact number of victims and the causes of the accident have not yet been precisely determined,” he stated, although several local media outlets report the number of soldiers on board.
Videos shared on social media show a large column of smoke and debris from the aircraft scattered across the area. The Civil Defense has reported that volunteers are assisting with rescue efforts, while images of the burning plane circulate. President Gustavo Petro also expressed his condolences for the accident and hoped that there would be no fatalities. Hercules C-130 aircraft are widely used for military transport and have a capacity of approximately 100 passengers with their equipment.
