By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

At least 66 people are confirmed dead after a Colombian military C-130 Hercules crashed during takeoff on Monday in the Putumayo province.

The aircraft was carrying 128 personnel, including 115 soldiers, 11 crew members, and two police officers. While 57 survivors have been evacuated, several people remain missing following the disaster at Caucayá Airport.

The death toll rose sharply as rescue teams reached the heart of the wreckage in the dense Amazonian jungle. General Hugo Alejandro López Barreto confirmed that the deceased include 58 soldiers, six crew members, and two police officers. Initial reports were chaotic, but the scale of the loss became clear as the manifest was cross-checked with recovered bodies.

Witnesses described hearing a mid-air explosion before the plane plummeted into the forest just two kilometers from the runway. Reports indicate the aircraft struck a tree with its wing, triggering a massive fire fueled by onboard ammunition. Thick plumes of black smoke were visible for miles as the plane disintegrated upon impact.

Local residents were the first to reach the site, using private motorcycles to transport the wounded to small nearby clinics. The local medical infrastructure was quickly overwhelmed, forcing the military to airlift at least 14 critically injured survivors to larger hospitals in major cities.

Images from the scene showed the charred tail of the plane surrounded by debris.

President Gustavo Petro labeled the event a “horrific accident” and expressed deep condolences to the families of the fallen service members.

Although the region is a known hotspot for rebel and cartel activity, officials stated there is currently no evidence that the plane was targeted. The investigation is currently focusing on potential technical failures or maintenance issues.

The aircraft, a 1984 model acquired from the United States in 2020, had undergone a major overhaul just a few years ago. Its loss has sparked a heated political debate regarding the aging state of Colombia’s military transport fleet.

President Petro blamed “bureaucratic obstacles” for delaying the purchase of modern equipment and vowed to hold officials accountable.

This tragedy ranks as one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Colombian military history and follows a similar C-130 crash in Bolivia. As the nation enters a period of official mourning, investigators are working to recover flight data recorders from the charred remains. International leaders have begun sending aid and messages of solidarity to the grieving country.