Puerto Leguízamo, Colombia: A Colombian Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in the remote Putumayo region on March 23, 2026, killing at least 66 people and injuring dozens more, according to military and government officials. Rescue operations are still underway as authorities continue searching for survivors in difficult Amazon terrain.
The aircraft departed from Caucayá Airport in Puerto Leguízamo, a remote town in southern Colombia near the borders with Peru and Ecuador, and was headed to Puerto Asís on a routine military transport mission. According to preliminary reports, the aircraft lost altitude during its initial climb phase shortly after takeoff and went down a few kilometers from the runway before bursting into flames.
Authorities confirmed that there were 125 people on board, including 114 military personnel and 11 crew members from the Colombian Air Force. The aircraft was reportedly transporting soldiers for operational duties in the region.
Military officials have confirmed that at least 66 people have died in the crash, while dozens have been injured. Earlier rescue efforts indicated that around 48 survivors were pulled from the wreckage, many of them with critical injuries, with figures varying as emergency operations continued. The number of casualties continues to be updated as search and recovery operations progress in the forested crash site.
Rescue teams from the Colombian Armed Forces, local emergency services, and air units were immediately deployed to the scene. However, access to the crash site has been severely complicated by dense jungle terrain and post-crash fire damage. Several injured personnel were airlifted to hospitals in Puerto Leguízamo and Bogotá, where medical facilities were quickly strained.
The aircraft was destroyed on impact and caught fire, further complicating recovery operations. Officials have not confirmed any technical malfunction or external interference, and no evidence of hostile action has been found at this stage.
Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the aircraft was considered airworthy before departure and that the crew was properly trained and qualified. He added that a full investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident.
President Gustavo Petro expressed condolences to the families of the victims and described the incident as a “horrific accident.” He also pointed to broader concerns regarding the modernization of Colombia’s military aviation fleet, while cautioning that conclusions should await the outcome of the investigation.
