Colombian military plane crash death toll rises to at least 66 as rescue operations continue
At a hospital in Bogotá, the official count of fatalities from Monday's Hercules C-130 accident has climbed past sixty-five people after an initial tally listed only thirty-four dead and dozens missing; Colombian officials confirmed that among those killed was at least one soldier while rescue teams work to recover remaining victims.
Key Points
-
1At least 66 people were killed when a Colombian Air Force C-130 Hercules plane crashed shortly after takeoff in South America.
-
2The aircraft was carrying approximately 75 to 82 soldiers and dozens of civilians, with initial reports indicating around half the passengers survived.
Developments
Perspectives
At least 66 people were killed on Monday when a Colombian Air Force plane carrying 125 passengers crashed just after takeoff in the South American country.
— [Mar 24, 03:27] Colombia actualiza cifra de muertos por accidente avión militar (Livemint)'Unfortunately,' information was of only 'at least' three deaths when a military plane crashed near Puerto Leguizamo in the Colombian Andes on Monday.
— [Mar 24, 03:59] Colombia cuenta con al menos tres muertos tras el accidente de un avión militar (Livemint)'Unfortunately,' information was of only 'at least' three deaths when a military plane crashed near Puerto Leguizamo in the Colombian Andes on Monday.
— [Mar 24, 03:59] Colombia cuenta con al menos tres muertos tras el accidente de un avión militar (Livemint)A Colombian military Hercules transport plane carrying 65 passengers and crew exploded shortly after takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo on Monday. The crash killed approximately two-thirds of its occupants while leaving nearly a dozen people missing amid difficult rescue conditions caused by burning debris, the detonation of onboard ammunition/explosives, and an inaccessible site near trees that clipped one wing during descent.