Colombian Military Plane Crashes After Takeoff, Many Feared Dead

• A Colombian military transport plane carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members crashed shortly after takeoff near Puerto Leguízamo.
• Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed deep sorrow, confirming an Air Force Hercules crashed, with many feared dead.
• RCN broadcast images showed a badly damaged fuselage engulfed in flames in a forest, less than two miles from Caucaya Airport.
• The plane was a C-130H Hercules, an older model donated by the US Air Force in September 2020.
• Indigenous ranger Nicolas Ordonez reported several survivors were taken to a local hospital, though the number of victims is not yet determined.

Key Questions Answered

Which specific aircraft model was involved in the Colombian military plane crash?

The Colombian military plane that crashed was a C-130H Hercules. This aircraft model first entered service in March 1965.

How many troops were reportedly on board the crashed Hercules plane?

Approximately 110 soldiers were reportedly on board the crashed Hercules plane.

When was the C-130H Hercules aircraft donated to the Colombian Air Force?

The C-130H Hercules aircraft was donated to the Colombian Air Force by the US Air Force in September 2020.