A Bolivian Air Force cargo aircraft transporting newly printed national currency crashed during landing procedures near El Alto International Airport on Friday, resulting in a catastrophic incident that claimed at least 15 lives and left numerous others injured.
The Hercules C-130 military transport plane, which had originated from Santa Cruz de la Sierra after collecting its monetary cargo, experienced a critical landing failure upon approach to the high-altitude airport serving La Paz. According to Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas, the aircraft ‘landed and veered off the runway’ before coming to rest in an adjacent field, erupting in flames that were subsequently extinguished by emergency responders.
The crash created a scene of devastation on a nearby highway, where debris from the aircraft struck approximately 15 vehicles, causing significant damage and trapping occupants. Social media footage depicted destroyed automobiles, aircraft wreckage, and human remains scattered across the roadway.
In a remarkable secondary development, the crash resulted in the dispersal of banknotes across the accident site, prompting local residents to scramble for the currency despite intervention by riot police attempting to secure the area. Central Bank President David Espinoza confirmed the aircraft was transporting newly printed bolivianos that had recently arrived from international sources, though the exact monetary value remains undisclosed.
Rescue operations continued into Friday evening with two of the plane’s six crew members still unaccounted for. Aviation authorities have temporarily suspended all flights to and from El Alto International Airport while investigations into the crash causation proceed.