Colombia military plane crashes near Ecuador border, dozens feared dead

BOGOTA: A Colombian military transport plane crashed near the town of Puerto Leguizamo, close to the border with Ecuador, with dozens of people feared dead in the incident.

The crash involved a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, with military personnel seen clambering over the wreckage of the plane, which was enveloped in smoke. Officials confirmed that the wreckage was scattered across the jungle, with fire and smoke visible at the crash site.

Second C-130 Hercules incident

The crash marks the second incident involving a C-130 Hercules aircraft in Colombia. The C-130 Hercules is a widely used military transport plane known for its versatility and capacity to operate in various conditions, including remote and challenging terrain such as the dense jungle areas near the crash site.

The circumstances leading to the crash remain under investigation, with authorities working to determine the cause of the incident. The crash site near Puerto Leguizamo, located in a remote jungle region close to the Ecuadorian border, has posed challenges for rescue and recovery operations.

Military personnel were deployed to the scene to carry out search and recovery efforts amid the difficult terrain and conditions. The scale of the wreckage, scattered across the jungle with ongoing fire, has complicated efforts to account for all those who were on board the aircraft.

Officials have expressed concern over the number of casualties, with dozens feared to have perished in the crash. The exact number of personnel and passengers on board the Hercules transport plane at the time of the incident has not yet been confirmed.

The incident has drawn attention to the safety of ageing military transport fleets used across Latin America. The C-130 Hercules has been a workhorse of military air forces around the world for decades, but incidents involving the aircraft have raised questions about maintenance and operational protocols.

Authorities are expected to provide further updates as rescue teams continue their work at the crash site and more details emerge about the circumstances surrounding the crash.