Colombian forensic teams are undertaking the painstaking process of identifying the remains of 69 security force members killed in a devastating military aircraft crash in the country’s southwestern region. The Hercules C-130 transport plane, donated by the United States in 2020, crashed just moments after takeoff from Puerto Leguízamo Airport at approximately 9:40 a.m. local time on Monday.
The aircraft, with tail number FAC 1016, went down approximately 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) from the runway, erupting in flames and sending black smoke billowing into the sky. Local civilians were first to respond to the disaster, with some using motorcycles to transport injured personnel to medical facilities before emergency services arrived.
Among the grieving families is Alfridis Julio, who anxiously awaits confirmation about his 19-year-old son, Kaleth Julio Severiche, who was traveling home on leave when the tragedy occurred. ‘My head is spinning. I don’t know what to do but wait,’ Julio expressed to reporters outside the forensic institute in Bogotá, where all victims’ bodies have been transported for formal identification.
The Colombian Defense Ministry has confirmed the fatalities include 67 armed forces members and two national police officers, resolving earlier conflicting reports about the death toll. The aircraft had undergone comprehensive maintenance in 2023, including engine inspections and component replacements, according to military records.
The Colombian Air Force has launched a full investigation into the catastrophe, with aviation experts expected to analyze data from the aircraft’s two onboard recorders containing critical flight information and cockpit voice recordings. No timeline has been established for the investigation’s conclusion.