New Delhi: At least 34 people were killed after a Colombian Air Force plane with 125 people onboard crashed following take-off on Monday. Nearly two dozen
people are still missing and rescue and search operation is on.
The crash, one of the deadliest in recent history for Colombia’s Air Force, took place as the Lockheed Martin-built Hercules C-130 transport plane was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo on the border with Peru, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said earlier on X.
The plane was carrying ammunition, which detonated after the aircraft hit the ground shortly after taking off, and as a result, the aircraft caught fire.
Videos from the scene circulating on social media showed aircraft crash debris still burning even as rescuers attempted to find survivors. One of the footage showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the debris, surrounded by thick grass and jungle. Another video showed the plane plunging towards the ground just seconds after takeoff.
🚨 Horrific crash caught on camera:
Colombian military plane loses altitude seconds after takeoff before slamming into Puerto Leguízamo, leaving 90 dead and dozens injured.pic.twitter.com/vJK3iRdjpo
— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) March 23, 2026
🇨🇴 At least 20 soldiers survived and 90 died in a military plane crash in Colombia, according to Blu Radio.
At least 90 soldiers died this Monday after a Colombian Air Force C-130 Hercules military aircraft crashed in the town of Puerto Leguízamo, in the department of Putumayo,… https://t.co/BV5goGdAEH pic.twitter.com/Yi0gycfsO9
— The Daily News (@DailyNewsJustIn) March 23, 2026
Jhon Gabriel Molina, governor of the Putumayo department, told a local news outlet that 34 people were killed, 70 people were injured and 21 people were missing. He further said that the death toll could change as several people are still missing.
“Unfortunately, the information is of 34 deaths,” Luis Emilio Bustos, the mayor of the nearby town of Puerto Leguizamo told Reuters.
