Colombian military plane carrying more than 100 troops crashes on takeoff

A Colombian military transport plane crashed shortly after taking off in the southern region of the country, carrying over 100 personnel, as stated by Vice President Francia Márquez Mina. The incident involved a C-130 Hercules aircraft and took place in Puerto Leguízamo, a town located in the Putumayo department, which borders Peru. The reason for the crash is still unknown, according to Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez. General Carlos Silva, who leads the Colombian Aerospace Force, confirmed that the plane had 114 passengers and 11 crew members on board. At least 48 individuals were rescued from the wreckage, he noted. A video verified by CNN captures the military plane taking off from Caucaya Airport and flying over a rural area just before it went down, indicating that the crash occurred less than two miles from the airport. Images of the crash site revealed thick black smoke and flames rising from the debris. Nicolas Ordoñez, an indigenous ranger participating in the search and rescue efforts in Leguízamo, informed CNN that several survivors were transported to a local hospital. Sánchez expressed his condolences to the families of those impacted. President Gustavo Petro remarked that the crash “should never have happened” and expressed concern about the lack of modernization in the armed forces, linking it to “bureaucratic difficulties.”