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At least 66 people were killed and dozens injured when a Colombian Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Puerto Leguízamo in Putumayo on March 23, 2026.
Military officials said the plane was carrying about 128 people — predominantly soldiers — with 57 rescued and four still missing.
The aircraft came down roughly 1.5–2 kilometres from the runway, caught fire and, authorities say, detonated some ammunition on board.
Local residents and first responders reached the remote jungle site before military teams; many of the injured were airlifted to hospitals in Bogotá. Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez and the air force commander reported no immediate signs of hostile action and opened an official investigation.
President Gustavo Petro blamed bureaucratic delays in modernising military equipment and questioned the safety of ageing or secondhand aircraft acquired under past transfers.
Lockheed Martin expressed condolences and offered to assist investigators.
The crash is among the deadliest in recent Colombian military history and has prompted urgent scrutiny of maintenance, load and operational procedures.







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