A Colombian Air Force plane has crashed in the south of the country, near the border with Peru.
Air Force commander Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda confirmed 114 passengers were onboard, along with 11 crew members. So far, 48 people have been rescued and hospitalized with injuries.
The plane, a US-made C-130 Hercules used for transporting troops, went down near Puerto Leguízamo in Putumayo province. Emergency workers have been dispatched to comb through the wreckage and assist the injured.
Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez described the incident as a 'tragic accident while it was taking off,' emphasizing the deep sadness it has caused in the country.
Images from local media revealed a plume of smoke rising from the crash site, as trucks transporting soldiers were seen heading to assist in the recovery effort. Footage shows locals aiding in transporting injured personnel to hospitals on small motorbikes.
President Gustavo Petro expressed his hopes for no fatalities and attributed the accident to 'bureaucratic problems' that have stalled the modernization of military aircraft—which he vowed to rectify promptly.
This tragic event follows a recent incident involving a Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules crash that resulted in at least 20 fatalities.
