At least 34 killed in Colombia military plane crash, governor says

At least 34 people have been killed in a plane crash in Colombia.

There were 125 on board the military transport aircraft.

The country’s defence minister Pedro Anulfo Sanchez said on Monday the Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130 plane had ‘‘suffered a tragic accident’’.

The number of people killed was confirmed by the governor of the Putumayo region, where the crash happened.

Earlier, authorities said 77 people had been rescued and taken to hospital - leaving around 40 unaccounted for.

Colombian Air Force Commander Fernando Silva said in a video posted on social media that the plane was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew and that officials were still investigating the cause of the crash.

Early reports said that many on board were soldiers.

President Gustavo Petro also commented - criticising those blocking his plans to modernise the military.

Colombia began buying C-130 planes as far back as the 1960s.

Mr Petro said in a post on X: ‘‘I will grant no further delays; it is the lives of our young people that are at stake. If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to this challenge, they must be removed.’’

The aircraft was taking off from an airport deep in Colombia’s southern Amazon region, on the border with Peru.

The crash occurred just two miles from a busy urban centre, local media BluRadio claim.

Footage purporting to show the crash shows a military plane taking off over dense rainforest before slowly descending back towards the ground.

Another clip shows locals transporting injured soldiers to safety on the back of their motorbikes.

The defence minister, Mr Sanchez, said the cause of the crash was under investigation.

He added: ‘‘I express my sincerest condolences to the families of those affected and, out of respect for their grief, I urge everyone to avoid speculation until official information is available.

‘‘This is a profoundly painful event for the country.’’

The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules is used by militaries across the world.

They were first launched in the 1950s and Colombia acquired its first models ⁠in the late 1960s.

Last month, another C-130 belonging to the Bolivian Air Force crashed in the city of Alto, killing 20 and injuring another 30.

Banknotes from the plane’s cargo scattered around the city - prompting clashes between residents and security forces.

It is also the second plane crash to make headlines in Colombia this year - back in January a small passenger plane crashed in the north of the country.

All 15 people on board, including a congressman, were killed.

Source: Sky News 

--Agencies