A Colombian military transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff on March 23, 2026, in Puerto Leguizamo, killing dozens and leaving 48 people rescued.
The Hercules C-130 aircraft, carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members, went down about two kilometers from the airport. Officials confirmed a problem occurred during flight but provided no immediate cause.
Colombian Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva said rescue operations are ongoing. Two aircraft equipped with medical beds were dispatched to airlift the injured to hospitals in Bogota and other cities.
Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez called the event a national tragedy. President Gustavo Petro blamed bureaucratic delays for failing to modernize aging military equipment and urged accountability.