Colombia: 69 Dead in Military C-130 Plane Crash

Colombia's Worst Military Air Tragedy in Decades

A C-130H Hercules military transport plane belonging to the Colombian Aerospace Force crashed on the morning of March 23, 2026, shortly after taking off from Caucayá Airport in Puerto Leguízamo, Putumayo department. The aircraft, en route to Puerto Asís with 128 people on board, lost altitude during its initial ascent, struck a tree with one of its wings, and crashed into the dense jungle 1.5 kilometers from the runway.

The crash resulted in 69 deaths, 58 survivors—57 of whom were injured, 14 in critical condition—and one person missing. Among the passengers were 113 soldiers from the National Army, two police officers, and 11 crew members from the Aerospace Force.

A Donated Plane with 43 Years of Service

The crashed aircraft, a Lockheed C-130H manufactured in 1984 and equipped with four Allison T56 turboprop engines, was donated by the United States Air Force in September 2020, as part of the excess defense articles program. In 2023, the plane had undergone a complete structural overhaul in which the engines were inspected and key components were replaced.

The fire following the impact completely destroyed the aircraft and detonated ammunition being transported on board, causing explosions among the wreckage. The first responders were local residents, who pulled survivors from the debris and transported the injured on motorcycles to the nearest medical centers, according to CNN reports.

Political Debate: «Junk» vs. «Historic Cooperation»

The tragedy ignited a bitter political clash in Colombia. President Gustavo Petro questioned the acquisition of the aircraft, calling it "junk" and asking: "Why did they buy a plane with 43 years of service?" Petro asserted that he had requested the replacement of the Hercules in the fleet a year earlier.

Former President Iván Duque responded that the plane was donated—not purchased—as part of a "historic cooperation" with the United States, and called for a rigorous investigation examining the weight of the cargo and the length of the runway. Former Minister Daniel Palacios reinforced this position, insisting that "the plane was not bought, it was donated."

A Colombian aviation expert quoted by Al Jazeera pointed out that, after the 2023 overhaul, he does not believe the accident was due to a lack of maintenance: "I don't think this plane crashed due to a lack of good parts."

Ongoing Investigation

Defense Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez and General Hugo Alejandro López ruled out the possibility that the plane was shot down by illegal armed groups. Colombian authorities continue to investigate the exact causes of the crash, which becomes the second deadliest accident in the history of the Colombian Air Force and the deadliest aviation accident worldwide in 2026.

While the families of the victims await answers, the debate over the modernization of the Colombian military fleet has moved to the center of the election campaign, highlighting tensions over defense investment, cooperation with the United States, and troop safety.