A Colombian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane crashed Monday afternoon shortly after takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo, a remote military and civilian outpost in Colombia's Putumayo department, near the country's border with Peru.
Colombian Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva confirmed in a video posted to social media that the plane was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members — 125 people total. All were military personnel being transported as part of routine troop movements.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted on X confirming the initial casualty figures:
"The causes of the Hercules plane accident are still unknown. Strength to the families of the young soldiers of the Homeland."
Petro confirmed: at least 1 killed, 77 injured, 43 unaccounted for.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez described the accident in a social media post: "Military units are already at the scene. However, the number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been confirmed." He called it "a deeply painful event for the country."
Colombian radio station Blu Radio reported the crash occurred approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Puerto Leguizamo's urban center.
What We Know — As of 3:00 PM CDT
- Aircraft: Lockheed C-130 Hercules (Colombian Air Force)
- Persons on board: 125 (114 passengers, 11 crew) — all military
- Confirmed killed: At least 1
- Injured: 77
- Unaccounted: 43
- Location: Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo, southern Colombia — near Peru border
- Phase: Crashed on takeoff
- Cause: Under investigation; unknown
- Distance from urban area: ~3 km (2 miles)
The C-130 Hercules: Background
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is the most widely used military transport aircraft in history. First flown in 1954, it has been produced in over 70 variants and operated by more than 60 countries. It is the primary heavy transport workhorse for the Colombian Air Force and dozens of other militaries globally.
Colombia acquired its first C-130 aircraft in the late 1960s. The Colombian Air Force has operated multiple variants since, and has in recent years modernized some older airframes with newer C-130J models supplied by the United States.
Puerto Leguizamo is a remote forward operating base in Colombia's southern jungle region — it serves both military and civilian transport functions in an area with no road connections, where air and river are the only practical transit options. C-130s are the logical choice for bulk troop movements in and out of such locations.
The C-130's safety record is generally strong across its long operational history, but takeoff accidents have occurred with multiple operators. The most common causes of C-130 takeoff incidents involve cargo shifting, engine failures, or runway condition issues — all of which are consistent with the operational environment of a remote forward base.
The Bolivian Precedent — Six Weeks Ago
Al Jazeera noted in its reporting that just over a month ago — in February 2026 — a Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules crashed in El Alto, Bolivia, narrowly missing a residential building. More than 20 people were killed and 30 injured in that incident.
Two C-130 crashes involving South American air forces within six weeks is an unusual clustering. Whether this reflects coincidence, a common maintenance or operational issue, or is purely statistical noise will be a question aviation safety investigators examine. The C-130 is an aging design — the airframes operated by South American air forces are often older models with significant hours — and regional military aviation maintenance capacity is variable.
What Happens Next
The 43 people whose status is unaccounted for are the most urgent concern. In a jungle crash 3 kilometers from a remote border town, search and rescue operations will face difficult terrain. The Colombian military has units on scene; additional rescue assets are likely being mobilized.
The cause investigation will take weeks to months. Colombian Air Force accident investigators and likely US advisors — given the US-supplied C-130 fleet — will examine flight data, maintenance records, cargo manifest, and eyewitness accounts.
This article will be updated as confirmed information becomes available.
Survivors pulled from wreckage. Al Jazeera reports that dozens of survivors have been pulled alive from the wreckage of the Colombian Air Force C-130. The number of confirmed deaths and those still unaccounted for has not been updated in official statements as of this writing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. (Source: Al Jazeera, March 24, 2026)
This article will continue to be updated as confirmed information becomes available.