Colombian Air Force Plane Crashes In South Near Peru Border
Colombian Air Force Plane Crashes in South Near Peru Border Dozens Dead, Many Injured Puerto Leguízamo, Putumayo, Colombia A Colombian Air Force Lockheed C‑130 H Hercules military transport aircraft carrying around 125 people crashed on Monday, March 23, 2026, shortly after takeoff in the dense jungle of southwestern Colombia, near its border with Peru. The accident occurred as the plane was departing Caucayá Airport in Puerto Leguízamo, bound for Puerto Asís, authorities said. The Hercules a four‑engine military transport plane used for troop movements went down just minutes after departure, plunging into dense forest roughly two kilometres from the airfield. The wreckage was destroyed by post‑crash fire, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
- Fatalities: At least 66 people have been confirmed dead following the crash, making it one of the deadliest aviation incidents in recent Colombian history.
- Injuries: Dozens more were rescued with serious injuries and evacuated to medical facilities; early figures suggest around 58 injured.
- Missing: Around four people remain unaccounted for amid ongoing search operations.
- Survivors: Officials reported rescuing 57–77 survivors from the crash site, including soldiers and crew, though figures vary slightly by source.
Passengers included a large number of military personnel, mostly soldiers from the National Army of Colombia, along with crew members. Colombian authorities, including President Gustavo Petro, Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez, and senior military officials, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash.
- Initial findings suggest that mechanical failure may be suspected, though investigators have not ruled out other possibilities.
- Officials explicitly stated there is no evidence of an attack by illegal armed groups, dismissing early speculation.
- Rescue operations involved local communities, military units, and medical evacuation teams, who worked through difficult jungle terrain to recover survivors and victims.
President Petro used the tragedy to stress the need for modernising Colombia’s ageing military fleet, saying delayed equipment upgrades and bureaucratic obstacles have hindered readiness and safety. The Lockheed C‑130 Hercules has been a workhorse of many military forces, including Colombia’s, for decades. The crashed aircraft tail number FAC1016 was delivered to Colombia in 2020 and had undergone extensive maintenance prior to the accident. International condolences have begun to arrive as the country mourns. The defence ministry and Colombian Air Force pay tribute to the lives lost, especially the military personnel who were on board.
Investigators will analyse flight data recorders and undertake a detailed review of the aircraft’s maintenance and flight history to determine the precise cause of the crash. Authorities have warned that the final casualty numbers may change as search efforts continue in the tough terrain of the Amazon jungle.
