Colombia C-130 Hercules Crash

A Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport plane, carrying 128 people, mostly soldiers, crashed shortly after takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia — Putumayo Department, Colombia, on March 23, 2026. The tragic accident resulted in at least 66 deaths and dozens of injuries. The aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin and donated by the United States to Colombia in 2020, went down approximately two to three kilometers from the airport, scattering burning debris. Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticized bureaucratic obstacles hindering military modernization, suggesting they contributed to the incident and called for accountability. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed deep sorrow and confirmed ongoing investigations into the cause, with no signs of an attack by rebel groups. The remote location and difficult terrain of the crash site posed significant challenges for rescue and recovery efforts. This incident follows a similar C-130 crash in Bolivia in February, raising broader concerns about the aging fleet of these aircraft in South America.