At least 66 killed after plane crash as bodies transported to morgue | World | News

A military transport aircraft carrying 128 people, predominantly soldiers, crashed shortly after departure on Monday in Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia, resulting in at least 66 fatalities and leaving dozens wounded, according to the head of Colombia’s armed forces.

General Hugo Alejandro Lopez Barreto confirmed that four military personnel remained unaccounted for.

« Sadly, as a consequence of this tragic accident, 66 of our military elements died, » he said.

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« At the moment, we have no information, or indications, that it was an attack by an illegal armed group, » Mr Barreto added.

In footage posted on social media, deputy mayor Carlos Claros explained that the victims’ bodies were transported to the small town’s morgue, whilst the town’s only two clinics treated the wounded before they were airlifted to larger urban centres. Puerto Leguizamo is situated in Putumayo, an Amazonian province bordering Ecuador and Peru.

« I want to thank the people of Puerto Leguizamo who came out to help the victims of this accident, » Mr Claros told Colombian television station RCN.

Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez stated on X that the aircraft which crashed on Monday was transporting troops to another city within Putumayo.

Footage circulated online by Colombian media outlets depicted a black plume of smoke billowing from a field where the aircraft came down, alongside a lorry carrying soldiers racing towards the scene.

The aircraft was carrying 128 people, comprising 115 from the Army, 11 crew members and two from the National Police. Mr Baretto confirmed 57 people were evacuated.

Media outlets broadcasted footage of soldiers being hastily evacuated from the crash site on motorcycles driven by local inhabitants, whilst another group of locals attempted to extinguish the fire ignited by the plane crash in a field enveloped by thick vegetation.

Carlos Fernando Silva, the commander of Colombia’s air force, stated that details of the crash were not yet known, « except that the plane had a problem and went down about two kilometres from the airport ».

The air force commander further noted that two planes, equipped with 74 beds, were dispatched to the region to airlift the injured back to hospitals in the capital, Bogota, and other locations.

Mr Petro capitalised on the accident to advocate for what he termed his long-standing campaign to modernise aircraft and other military equipment used by his country, stating that these efforts have been hindered by « bureaucratic difficulties » and implying that certain officials should be held responsible.

« If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to the challenge, they must be removed, » Mr Petro declared.

Detractors of the president highlighted that military aircraft have been allocated fewer flight hours under the Petro administration due to budget cuts, resulting in less experienced crews.

Erich Saumeth, a Colombian aviation expert and military analyst, revealed that the Hercules C-130 that crashed on Monday had been donated by the United States to Colombia in 2020. Three years on, it underwent a comprehensive overhaul, during which its engines were inspected and key components replaced.

« I don’t think this plane crashed because of a lack of good parts, » Mr Saumeth stated. He suggested that investigations will need to ascertain why the engines of the Hercules, which boasts four propellers, failed so swiftly after take-off.

In a message on X Monday, Mr Sanchez confirmed that thus far there were no indications that the plane was targeted by rebel groups operating near Puerto Leguizamo.

Mr Sanchez expressed that the accident was « profoundly painful for the country », adding: « We hope that our prayers can help to relieve some of the pain. »