Colombian military plane crash leaves 66 dead and dozens injured
USA Today • • world
Key Points:
- A Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130 military transport plane carrying 128 personnel crashed during takeoff in Puerto Leguízamo, Colombia, on March 23, resulting in at least 66 deaths and multiple injuries.
- The aircraft, carrying 11 Air Force members, 115 army personnel, and 2 national police officers, reportedly clipped a tree at the end of the runway before catching fire.
- Rescue efforts involved local residents and military units, with 57 survivors hospitalized, 30 with non-life-threatening injuries, while several remain missing.
- The cause of the crash is under investigation, with Lockheed Martin pledging support, and Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticizing bureaucratic delays in military modernization efforts following the tragedy.
- President Petro emphasized the urgency of modernizing the military fleet and threatened to remove officials failing to improve troop mobility and equipment procurement.
