Military Plane Crash in Colombia Leaves Dozens Missing

A Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules military transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Puerto Leguízamo, Colombia on Monday, March 23, 2026, leaving more than 50 soldiers unaccounted for. The accident, described as “tragic” by Colombia’s defense minister, Pedro Anulfo Sanchez, has sparked a large-scale rescue operation and raised questions about the aging fleet of military aircraft.

What Happened?

The aircraft, carrying 110 soldiers, crashed in a remote area of the Amazonian province of Putumayo, near the border with Peru and Ecuador. Around 57 people have been rescued alive, according to sources cited in reports. The crash occurred just two miles from a busy urban center, according to local media outlet BluRadio. Images circulating online reveal a black cloud of smoke rising from the crash site and locals assisting in rescue efforts.

Official Responses

Defense Minister Sanchez stated on X (formerly Twitter), “With deep sorrow, I report that a Hercules aircraft from our [Colombian Aerospace Force] suffered a tragic accident while taking off from Puerto Leguízamo (Putumayo), while transporting troops from our Public Force.” He added that all protocols for assisting victims and their families have been activated, and an investigation is underway. AP News

President Gustavo Petro also responded to the incident, criticizing obstacles that have hindered his plans to modernize the military. In a post on X, Petro expressed hope for no fatalities and stated, “I will grant no further delays; it is the lives of our young people that are at stake.” He also suggested that administrative officials who cannot meet the challenge of modernization “must be removed.” Sky News

The Aircraft and Recent History

The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules is a widely used military transport aircraft, first launched in the 1950s. Colombia began acquiring C-130 planes in the late 1960s. Sky News This crash follows a similar incident last month in Bolivia, where a C-130 belonging to the Bolivian Air Force crashed, killing 20 people and injuring 30. Sky News

Colombia also experienced another plane crash earlier this year in January, when a small passenger plane went down in the north of the country, killing all 15 people on board, including a congressman. Sky News

Ongoing Investigation

The cause of the crash remains undetermined. Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the factors that led to the accident. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.