Scores feared dead as Colombian military plane crashes
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- A Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130 military transport plane crashed on takeoff from Puerto Leguízamo in Colombia's southern Amazon region, carrying 11 air force members and 114 soldiers, with scores feared dead.
- Rescue teams have saved 48 injured individuals, but the exact number of survivors and fatalities remains unclear, and the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the accident as a "horrific accident" and highlighted ongoing challenges in renewing the military fleet due to bureaucratic issues, calling for accountability.
- Leading presidential candidates expressed condolences and demanded investigations into the crash, while images from the scene show smoke, rescue efforts, and civilians attempting to extinguish the fire.
- This incident follows a similar recent crash of a Bolivian Hercules C-130 in February, which resulted in over 20 deaths and numerous injuries.
