By Our Correspondent
National News – At least 66 people have died after a Colombian military transport aircraft crashed during takeoff early Monday near Puerto Leguizamo in southern Colombia.
The aircraft, carrying 125 soldiers and crew members, went down shortly after leaving the small border airport, scattering burning wreckage across the jungle floor close to the borders with Ecuador and Peru.
Authorities confirmed that dozens of other passengers survived but sustained injuries and were rushed for emergency medical treatment.
Officials said the aircraft involved in the tragedy was a C-130 Hercules military transport plane widely used for troop movement and cargo operations.
According to military sources, 58 soldiers, six air force personnel and two police officers were among those killed in the crash.
Emergency responders and local residents quickly rushed to the crash site to help evacuate survivors while firefighters battled flames from the wreckage.
General Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda disclosed that the plane was transporting 114 troops and 11 crew members from Puerto Leguizamo to a military outpost located in the Amazon region.
However, the aircraft reportedly encountered trouble shortly after attempting to gain altitude, eventually crashing into a forested area near the airport.
The difficult terrain and the small size of the airport complicated rescue and evacuation operations.
Putumayo regional governor Jhon Gabriel Molina explained that authorities were facing logistical challenges in transporting the injured and retrieving bodies due to the limited facilities available in the area.
Local residents said they heard a loud explosion moments before seeing the plane descend dangerously close to nearby homes before crashing.
Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing the crash as a painful national tragedy.
He stated that investigations have already begun to determine the cause of the accident.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro also described the disaster as a “horrific accident” while stressing the need to modernise the country’s military equipment.
The incident marks the second crash involving a C-130 Hercules aircraft in South America within a month, raising fresh concerns about aviation safety and maintenance for military aircraft operating in the region.
