One person killed in Colombian military plane crash

Colombia Plane Crash: Investigation Underway

A Colombian military plane carrying 125 personnel has crashed shortly after takeoff in the southern part of the country. According to Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva, the aircraft was transporting 114 passengers and 11 crew members at the time of the incident.

The Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, confirmed that at least one person had died, with 77 others injured. The status of 43 individuals remains unknown. Petro stated that the causes of the Hercules plane accident are still under investigation.

Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez reported that the accident occurred when the Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130 plane took off from Puerto Leguizamo on the border with Peru while transporting troops. Military units have been deployed to the scene, but the number of victims and the cause of the crash have not yet been confirmed.

The incident has been described as a “deeply painful event” for the country by Sanchez. The Colombian Air Force acquired its first Hercules C-130 plane in the late 1960s and has since modernized some older models with newer aircraft sent from the United States.

A similar incident occurred last month, when a Bolivian Air Force Hercules C-130 crashed in the city of El Alto, killing over 20 people and injuring 30. The cause of this incident is also still under investigation.

Source: Al Jazeera