A Colombian Air Force plane crashed in the south of the country, marking a tragic event for the Colombian military and the nation. The aircraft, a US-made C-130 Hercules, was carrying a total of 125 individuals, including 114 army personnel and 11 crew members. As of now, eight fatalities have been confirmed, while more than 80 others have sustained injuries and are being treated at local hospitals.
This incident unfolded on Monday near the town of Puerto Leguízamo in Putumayo province, close to Colombia's border with Peru. Emergency services quickly mobilized to the scene, with footage revealing workers searching through the wreckage for survivors amidst ongoing smoke.
Colombian Air Force commander Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda reported that 48 individuals had been rescued from the wreckage with various injuries. The regional governor, Jhon Gabriel Molina, confirmed the unfortunate death toll and emphasized the need for thorough investigation into the incident.
The Defense Minister, Pedro Sánchez, expressed his sorrow over what he termed 'a tragic accident' occurring during takeoff while transporting troops. Colombian President Gustavo Petro weighed in as well, labeling the crash as 'horrendous' and stressing that delays in the modernization of military equipment may have contributed to the tragedy, without going into detail about the possible causes of the crash.
This calamity follows a recent crash in Bolivia involving a military C-130, which resulted in at least 20 deaths, raising concerns about military aviation safety in the region. Emergency workers and locals are diligently working to assist those affected and uncover the circumstances surrounding this calamity.}
This incident unfolded on Monday near the town of Puerto Leguízamo in Putumayo province, close to Colombia's border with Peru. Emergency services quickly mobilized to the scene, with footage revealing workers searching through the wreckage for survivors amidst ongoing smoke.
Colombian Air Force commander Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda reported that 48 individuals had been rescued from the wreckage with various injuries. The regional governor, Jhon Gabriel Molina, confirmed the unfortunate death toll and emphasized the need for thorough investigation into the incident.
The Defense Minister, Pedro Sánchez, expressed his sorrow over what he termed 'a tragic accident' occurring during takeoff while transporting troops. Colombian President Gustavo Petro weighed in as well, labeling the crash as 'horrendous' and stressing that delays in the modernization of military equipment may have contributed to the tragedy, without going into detail about the possible causes of the crash.
This calamity follows a recent crash in Bolivia involving a military C-130, which resulted in at least 20 deaths, raising concerns about military aviation safety in the region. Emergency workers and locals are diligently working to assist those affected and uncover the circumstances surrounding this calamity.}
