A military transport plane with 121 people, mostly soldiers, crashes shortly after takeoff in Colombia's Puerto Leguizamo, killing at least one and injuring 77.
A military transport plane carrying 121 people, including 110 soldiers and 11 crew members, crashed shortly after taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia. The incident occurred near the southern border with Ecuador, resulting in at least one fatality and 77 injuries. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with two planes sent to evacuate the injured to Bogota and other locations. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for modernization of military equipment and accountability among officials following the tragedy.
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The Hercules C-130 plane had been transporting soldiers to another city in Putumayo province when it experienced issues and crashed about two kilometers from the airport. Images shared online showed smoke rising from the crash site, with soldiers being rushed to safety on motorcycles driven by local residents. Air force commander Carlos Fernando Silva confirmed that the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation.