Colombian Air Force crash kills at least eight and injures scores near Puerto Leguizamo, with rescue operations underway and cause under investigation
A Colombian Air Force Crash involving a Lockheed C‑130 Hercules transport aircraft carrying 125 people killed at least eight and injured more than 80 after the plane went down shortly after takeoff from Caucayá Airport in Puerto Leguízamo, Putumayo, the Ministry of Defence said.
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The military aircraft, tail number FAC1016, was en route to the nearby Amazon outpost of Puerto Asís when it failed to gain altitude and plummeted into dense jungle terrain, sparking a blaze amid burning wreckage strewn across the forest floor.
Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy, saying the accident was “deeply painful” for the nation as emergency crews and military units battled challenging conditions to reach the remote scene.
Regional Governor Jhon Gabriel Molina confirmed the evolving toll in a video statement, noting that at least eight people had died and 83 were injured, some critically, while dozens remained unaccounted for as rescue operations continued.
General Carlos Fernando Silva, Commander of the Colombian Air Force, said the aircraft was carrying 114 troops and 11 crew members on a routine transport mission when it crashed during initial climb‑out.
Residents in communities near the crash site recounted hearing a loud explosion before seeing the plane descend back toward the jungle.
Local witnesses and first responders were among the first on the scene, scrambling to assist survivors and recover the injured.
President Gustavo Petro shared footage on social media of the aircraft’s failed ascent, describing the incident as a “horrific accident” and called for an urgent review of the military’s ageing fleet and equipment.
Colombia’s Defence Ministry and aviation investigators have launched a full examination of the Colombian Air Force Crash, with officials cautioning that it is too early to determine a cause.
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The region has been a focus of extensive military operations targeting drug‑trafficking and armed groups in recent weeks.
