Military Plane Crashes in Southern Colombia Shortly After Takeoff, Killing One and Injuring Dozens

Putumayo. A military aircraft carrying 121 people crashed shortly after taking off in the southern region of Colombia. At least one person has died and dozens have been injured in this accident that occurred in Puerto Leguízamo, Putumayo province.

Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez described the incident, which took place in a remote area of the Amazon region, as a 'terrible accident.' According to President Gustavo Petro, 77 people were injured in the crash, and the condition of 43 others remains unclear.

The aircraft had a total of 121 people on board, including 110 soldiers and 11 crew members. The Hercules C-130 model aircraft experienced problems and fell to the ground just two kilometers from the airport while transporting soldiers to another city in Putumayo province. Although it was initially reported that 125 people were on board, the Air Force later confirmed the number to be 121.

Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva stated that the exact cause of the accident has not yet been determined. Two special aircraft, including one with beds, have been dispatched from the capital Bogotá and other areas to the scene to rescue the injured.

Colombia has been using Hercules aircraft since the 1960s, and in recent years, older aircraft were modernized with assistance from the United States. A similar aircraft crash occurred in Bolivia just last month.