A Colombian Air Force C-130 Hercules transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday in the country's southwest, killing nearly 80 military personnel, according to preliminary reports. Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed the crash on social media. While Sanchez said the exact death toll and cause of the accident remain under investigation, military sources cited by local media indicated around 80 soldiers lost their lives. If confirmed, the crash would be one of Colombia's worst military aviation disasters in recent years. The military has cordoned off the area around the airport for evidence collection.

Source: The Standard March 24, 2026 03:00 UTC