At Least 34 Dead in Military Plane Crash in Colombia
A military plane crash in Colombia has killed at least 34 people. The aircraft, carrying between 121 and 125 passengers, crashed shortly after takeoff in the Putumayo province, located in the southern Amazon region.
According to Reuters, more than 70 people were injured in the accident, and several are still reported missing. The plane went down roughly 1.5 to 2 kilometers from Puerto Leguízamo airport, where it had taken off.
Initially, the Air Force reported 121 people on board—110 soldiers and 11 crew members—but local authorities later stated that up to 125 were on the flight.
Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez said that after the crash, ammunition on the plane exploded, causing a fire that complicated rescue operations.
Putumayo Governor John Gabriel Molina confirmed that 34 bodies have been recovered and 70 people are injured, while 21 remain missing. Two specialized aircraft with medical teams have been dispatched from Bogotá and other regions to assist the injured.
Luis Emilio Bustos, mayor of Puerto Leguízamo, noted that the death toll could rise. Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva stated that the exact cause of the crash is still unknown and that an investigation is ongoing.
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