New Delhi: A military transport aircraft in Colombia on Tuesday crashed shortly after takeoff with 121 people on board, leaving at least 66 dead and several others injured, authorities said.
The aircraft, identified as a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, went down near Puerto Leguízamo in the country’s southern Amazon region, close to the Peru border. Most of those on board were soldiers being transported by the armed forces, according to theguardian.com.
Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez said the crash occurred during takeoff. He added that the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.
The Colombian Air Force said rescue teams pulled at least 77 injured people from the crash site and shifted them for medical treatment. Authorities are still verifying the final number of casualties.
Visuals shared by local media showed thick black smoke rising from a field where the aircraft crashed. Soldiers and residents rushed to the site, with locals assisting in rescue efforts and trying to control the fire.
Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva said preliminary information indicates the aircraft developed a problem and crashed about two kilometres from the airport. He noted that further details will emerge after a full investigation.
President Gustavo Petro described the incident as a horrific accident and stressed the need for accountability. He indicated that efforts to modernise the military fleet had faced administrative hurdles.
Officials said emergency response teams were deployed immediately. Two aircraft equipped with medical facilities were sent to transport the injured to hospitals in Bogotá and other locations.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
