During the morning of this Monday, Colombian authorities confirmed that a That country’s Air Force plane crashed just minutes after taking off. It was a Hercules aircraft, which carried more than 100 soldiers.
“It is with deep pain that I inform you that a Hercules plane from our @FuerzaAereaCol suffered a tragic accident while taking off from Puerto Leguizamo (Putumayo), when it was transporting troops of the Public Force,” indicated the Colombian Minister of Defense, Pedro Sánchez Suárez.
Plane with soldiers crashes in Colombia
In videos you can see that the situation occurred in a jungle area within Colombia, close to the border with Peru. The plane had taken off from Putumayo airport.
President Gustavo Petro stated: “I hope we don’t have any deaths in this horrific accident that should not have happened.”
At this time no fatalities have been officially reported. The incident is under investigation by the Colombian army.
#ATTENTION | Air Force Hercules plane crashed in Puerto Leguízamo, Putumayo. pic.twitter.com/oy2z9LERmI
— RCN News (@NoticiasRCN) March 23, 2026
NEW: Video shows Colombian Air Force plane losing altitude shortly before the crash. About 100 people were on board pic.twitter.com/5CdOGkEODu
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) March 23, 2026
“All our capabilities are ready to support the work at the scene, the care of those affected and the development of the corresponding investigation. Today the pain belongs to everyone,” said the director of the Colombian National Police, General William Rincón.
The Civil Defense, a national rescue body, reported for its part that volunteers from that organization in Putumayo, “in coordination with other relief organizations, are moving and providing support in the event of an emergency,” and released a video of the wreckage of the burning plane.
“I express my most sincere condolences to the families of those affected and, in respect for their pain, I call on people to avoid speculation until we have official information,” added the Minister of Defense.
The Hercules C-130 aircraft of the Armed Forces are one of the most used models in the world by the air forces to transport soldiers and military material, and have capacity for about 100 passengers with their weapons and ammunition.
