Rescue workers in Colombia are on a mission to locate four missing military personnel following a tragic plane crash that took the lives of 66 others. The ill-fated Hercules C-130 transport aircraft went down shortly after take-off near Colombia's border with Peru, marking a significant loss for the Colombian security forces.
A total of 128 individuals were aboard the aircraft, which was en route from Puerto Leguízamo to Puerto Asís. Colleagues and locals rushed to the crash site, helping to evacuate wounded survivors from the wreckage with motorbikes.
As the investigation into the crash progresses, President Gustavo Petro has publicly criticized the military's aging fleet, suggesting that bureaucratic delays have hampered necessary upgrades to safety equipment. In his social media comments, he noted that the aircraft, acquired in 2020, was in poor condition and emphasized the urgency of modernizing the military's hardware.
Eyewitness accounts describe a loud explosion as the plane descended and smoke billowed into the sky. Colombia's defense minister confirmed that the sounds heard were due to ammunition on board igniting in the flames. Notably, this incident marks the second deadly event involving a Hercules C-130 in recent months, raising concerns about overall aviation safety in the military sector.
The sorrowful aftermath of this tragedy continues to unfold as rescue efforts persist and families await news about their loved ones.
