Colombia Plane Crash: Military Transport Aircraft Down, At Least One Dead

March 23, 2026 Lucas Fernandez – World Editor World

A military transport plane carrying 125 people crashed in southwestern Colombia on Monday, resulting in at least one confirmed fatality and leaving approximately 40 individuals unaccounted for, according to Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Anulfo Sanchez.

The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft “suffered a tragic accident” shortly after taking off from Puerto Leguízamo, a remote municipality in the Amazonian province of Putumayo, bordering Peru and Ecuador, Sanchez stated in a post on X. 77 people have been rescued and transported to hospitals, authorities reported.

Colombian Air Force Commander Fernando Silva detailed that the plane was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

President Gustavo Petro responded to the incident, criticizing perceived delays in modernizing the Colombian military. “I hope Notice no fatalities in this horrific accident that should never have happened,” Petro wrote on X. “I will grant no further delays; it is the lives of our young people that are at stake. If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to this challenge, they must be removed.”

The aircraft was reportedly taking off from an airport in Colombia’s southern Amazon region when the crash occurred approximately two miles from a populated urban center, according to local media outlet BluRadio.

Sanchez confirmed that military units were dispatched to the crash site and that all protocols for assisting victims and their families have been activated. He urged the public to refrain from speculation until official information is released, describing the event as “a profoundly painful event for the country.”

The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules is a widely used military transport aircraft, with Colombia acquiring its first models in the late 1960s. The incident follows a similar crash last month involving a Bolivian Air Force C-130, which resulted in 20 deaths and 30 injuries. That crash scattered banknotes from the plane’s cargo, leading to clashes between residents and security forces.

What we have is the second plane crash in Colombia to garner national attention this year. In January, a minor passenger plane crashed in the north of the country, killing all 15 people on board, including a congressman.