The crashed aircraft is said to be a Hercules aircraft. Image: Getty Images Europe
Mar 23, 2026, 6:11 p.mMarch 23, 2026, 6:19 p.m
A military plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Colombia on Monday. This was confirmed by Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez at X. Around 80 people are feared dead, the AFP news agency reported.
With deep information about Hercules from New Zealand @FuerzaAereaCol Sufrió a tragic accidente mientras despegaba de Puerto Leguízamo (Putumayo), cuando transportaba tropas de nuestra Fuerza Pública.
The military units were brought to the fire of the hechos; are…
— Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez S. Orgullosamente Colombiano (@PedroSanchezCol) March 23, 2026
The Hercules machine took off from Puerto Leguizamo in the south of the country near the border with Peru with troops from the Colombian Air Force, the newspaper “El Meridiano” reported, citing Minister Sánchez.
More information coming soon.
Sources used:
- with material from the AFP news agency