At least 66 soldiers have died following a military aircraft crash in Colombia, shortly after takeoff near the southern border with Peru.
The incident occurred on March 23, 2026, when the aircraft departed from Puerto Leguízamo Airport and crashed moments later. According to emergency services, the plane was carrying 128 people, including mostly soldiers and police officers.
Out of those on board, 66 were confirmed dead, while 57 survived and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Among the survivors, 30 sustained minor injuries and were later discharged, while others remain under medical care.
Three individuals are still missing, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.
Eyewitnesses and videos circulating on social media show local residents rushing to the crash site to assist survivors, pulling them from the wreckage before emergency responders arrived.
Preliminary reports suggest the aircraft may have encountered a technical problem shortly after takeoff or possibly collided with an object mid-air. As it was going down, its left wing is believed to have struck a tree, causing it to explode upon impact.
Firefighter Eduardo San Juan Callejas stated that the aircraft caught fire after crashing, making rescue efforts more difficult.
Authorities in Colombia have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash, including whether technical failure or other factors were involved.
This incident is considered one of the deadliest military aviation disasters in the country in recent years.
