WORLD NEWS: Around 8 dead, 80 injured in military plane crash
New information reveals that the following story has emerged from the international scene.
Colombian authorities announced Monday the crash of a military plane in the south of the country, leaving 8 dead and 83 injured so far. The aircraft, a Hercules C-130, was carrying 125 people when it went down shortly after taking off around 10 a.m. local time from Puerto Leguizamo, in the department of Putumayo, near the border with Ecuador. Authorities are investigating the causes of the accident.
Cause still unknown
Jhon Gabriel Molina, governor of Putumayo, shared a video on Facebook, highlighting “great difficulties in evacuating the victims” from the small airport. An initial assessment by the army reported 48 injured.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez indicated on X, expressing “deep pain,” that the Hercules plane “suffered a tragic accident during its takeoff […] while transporting troops” in Puerto Leguizamo. The cause of the accident was not immediately known.
The public channel RCN broadcast images showing the fuselage burning in a clearing. “Military units are already on site,” added Minister Sanchez, calling it “a deeply painful event for the country.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro deplored a “horrible accident that should never have happened” and emphasized the need to modernize the military fleet, without specifying whether this had a particular link to the crash. He also shared a video showing the plane struggling to gain altitude before hitting the ground.
“I heard an explosion in the air and, when I looked, the plane was coming near the house on my plot,” said Noé Mota, a local resident, to AFP.
Context
This unstable border zone has been the scene of intense military activity in recent weeks, as the Colombian and Ecuadorian armies target armed groups involved in drug trafficking.
This is the second crash in less than a month involving a C-130 Hercules in South America. On February 27, a Bolivian military cargo plane carrying banknotes crashed while landing near La Paz, killing 24 people.
Analysis and Perspective:
Our editorial team will continue to monitor this situation as new details emerge.
The implications of this story extend beyond borders and could affect millions of people globally.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story continues to unfold.
Source: This article was originally published in another language by 20Minutes – Actu Monde and has been translated and adapted for our global English-speaking audience. Read the original article here.