At least 66 people were killed in a military plane crash in Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia on Monday, March 23. A Colombian Air Force plane was carrying 125 passengers at the time of the incident. The crash occurred just after takeoff as it was transporting military personnel.
Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130 plane was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo. Maj Gen Carlos Fernando Silva, the chief of the Colombian air force, said the aircraft was carrying 11 air force members and 114 soldiers at the time of the accident.
Also Read | Colombia Plane Crash: Air Force Aircraft With 110 Soldiers on Board Crashes During Takeoff (Watch Video).
Colombian President Gustavo Petro in a post on X, said that the status of more than 40 people on board the plane is yet to be confirmed.
In an earlier post on X, Colombian President Petro criticised bureaucratic obstacles delaying his plans to modernise the military. “The modernization of the military forces' armament has been a decision of my presidency for years. Bureaucratic difficulties in the military administration have not allowed the Conpes/confis to carry these out since a year ago when I requested it,” Petro said in the post.
The Colombian President said that if the decision was not approved, “civilian or military administrative officials” must be removed, while saying no more time would be granted.
“The planning director, together with the defense minister, must meet with me to approve the Conpes for the purchase of armament, starting with the anti-drones, and it will be financed with future appropriations as a strategic project,” Petro stated.