Colombia’s Air Pressure has confirmed {that a} transport plane crash close to Puerto Leguízamo has killed not less than 66 navy personnel and crew.
The disclosure was reported by Reuters, citing navy sources and official statements.
The plane, a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, was carrying over 120 occupants, together with troopers, air power crew, and cops, when it crashed shortly after takeoff close to Colombia’s southern border with Peru.
Colombia’s Defence Minister, Pedro Sánchez, described the incident as a tragic accident that occurred throughout a essential part of flight. Air Pressure commander Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda additionally confirmed the variety of personnel onboard and the size of the casualties.
Authorities added {that a} fireplace broke out onboard the plane, triggering ammunition explosions that worsened the impression, whereas emergency responders continued rescue operations on the crash website.
The most recent crash provides to a rising record of navy aviation accidents within the area involving comparable plane sorts. In February, a Bolivian Air Pressure Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules crashed in El Alto whereas transporting banknotes, leading to not less than 20 deaths.
Regardless of having fewer occupants than the Colombian plane, the Bolivian incident raised comparable security issues across the operation of ageing navy transport fleets.
Latest world aviation knowledge reveals continued security features, although deadly incidents nonetheless happen—particularly throughout takeoff and touchdown. Based on the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation (IATA), accident charges edged decrease in 2025.
North America recorded a slight improve, Latin America and the Caribbean improved marginally, and the Center East, North Africa, and North Asia maintained low incident ranges.
Regardless of the rise in fatalities, IATA maintains that aviation stays the most secure type of long-distance journey, supported by sustained enhancements in world security requirements.
