A military transport aircraft from Colombia crashed today while attempting to take off in the south of the country, the Colombian Aerospace Force confirmed, resulting in at least 80 deaths, according to the army.
“The Aerospace Force reports that a C-130 Hercules aircraft suffered an accident in Puerto Leguízamo. Colombia’s Military Forces are mobilized at the site responding to the emergency,” the air force said in a message posted on social media.
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed that the aircraft crashed “while taking off from Puerto Leguízamo,” in the Putumayo region, adding that it was “carrying Public Force troops.”
Sánchez said military units are already on the ground.
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“However, the exact number of victims and the causes of the accident have not yet been determined,” he explained, adding that assistance protocols for victims and their families have been activated and that an investigation has been launched.
“I express my most sincere condolences to the families of those affected and, out of respect for their grief, I urge that speculation be avoided until official information is available,” he said, describing the घटना as “deeply painful” for Colombia.
The Colombian Army, according to the Agence France-Presse (AFP), reported a total of 80 deaths, without providing further details.
