A devastating aviation tragedy struck Colombia on Monday when a Hercules C-130 military transport aircraft crashed shortly after departure from Puerto Leguizamo, resulting in at least 66 fatalities among the 128 personnel aboard. The catastrophic incident represents one of the most severe military aviation disasters in recent Colombian history.
General Hugo Alejandro Lopez Barreto, head of Colombia’s armed forces, confirmed the grim casualty figures while indicating that four military personnel remain unaccounted for. The aircraft was carrying 115 army personnel, 11 crew members, and 2 national police officers when it went down near the Amazonian border region with Ecuador and Peru.
Authorities have preliminarily ruled out hostile action by illegal armed groups, suggesting the crash likely resulted from mechanical failure or other accident-related factors. Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez stated via social media platform X that the aircraft was conducting routine troop transport operations within Putumayo province when the disaster occurred.
Emergency response teams mobilized immediately following the crash, with local residents joining military personnel in rescue efforts. Deputy Mayor Carlos Claros described how community members rushed to assist victims amid the wreckage. The two modest medical clinics in Puerto Leguizamo provided initial treatment to survivors before arranging aerial medical evacuations to better-equipped urban facilities.
Visual documentation from Colombian media outlets depicted thick black smoke billowing from the crash site in remote grassland areas, with military vehicles racing toward the scene. The investigation into determining the precise cause of the tragedy remains ongoing, with aviation experts expected to examine flight data recorders and wreckage evidence.