Bogota - A Hercules C-130 aircraft belongs to Colombian Military has crashed on Monday, 23 March 2026 morning hours local time, shortly after takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo airbase, in Putumayo, in the southern part of the country, at least 66 soldiers were killed.
The cargo aircraft lost power when took off and crashed with 128 individuals on board, according to Colombian Defense Ministry.
According to Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez, the aircraft aimed to bound for Puerto Asis and it was in the good condition to fly.
"The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, falling to the ground approximately 1.5 km from the aerodrome," the Minister said, adding that those who are injured had been evacuated.
Ammunition carried by the troops detonated after the crash, the minister explained.
"According to the information available up to this point, there are no indications of an attack by illegal actors," Sanchez confirmed.
Separately, Commander of the Colombia Armed Forces General Hugo Alejandro Lopez Barreto in a press conference on Monday confirmed that at least 66 people were killed in the incident.
"The death toll of the tragic accident in Puerto Leguizamo is deeply painful, 66 military personnel have died, 58 from the Army, 6 from the Air Force, and 2 from the National Police. At this time, 58 people have been evacuated, 57 are receiving medical treatment, and one unharmed," General Lopez Baretto said.
The wounded are treated in at least 19 hospitals.
