At least fifteen individuals have tragically lost their lives following a devastating military cargo plane crash in Bolivia on Friday. The aircraft, laden with newly printed banknotes from the central bank, skidded off the runway at El Alto international airport, veering onto a nearby highway before coming to rest in a field.
Chaos and Casualties on a Major Highway
The Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules transport plane was en route from the eastern city of Santa Cruz to deliver its monetary payload to other cities when the disaster struck during its landing attempt at the airport serving the capital, La Paz. Official statements from the Ministry of Defence confirmed the crash, though further operational details remain scarce at this early stage.
Local fire chief Pavel Tovar reported the significant death toll but could not immediately specify whether the victims were aboard the aircraft or on the ground. He confirmed that a number of people sustained injuries in the catastrophic incident. The crash site presented a scene of utter devastation, with aircraft debris, destroyed vehicles, and bodies littering the road.
Scattered Banknotes Prompt Public Frenzy and Police Response
Perhaps the most surreal aspect of this tragedy was the plane's cargo. As the military aircraft broke apart, it scattered a vast quantity of newly printed Bolivian banknotes across the crash site and surrounding area. Footage from local media outlets captured chaotic scenes as members of the public rushed to collect the scattered currency.
In response to the growing crowds and potential safety concerns, Bolivian riot police were deployed to the area. Officers in full protective gear utilized teargas in attempts to disperse the gathering throngs and secure the crash site. Additional photographs showed a police officer protecting himself from the lingering effects of the chemical irritants deployed during these crowd control operations.
Extensive Damage and Ongoing Recovery Efforts
The impact of the crashing plane caused substantial collateral damage on the ground. Chief Tovar indicated that at least fifteen vehicles on the adjacent highway were involved in the incident, with many completely destroyed by the impact or subsequent fire. Firefighting teams worked diligently and successfully managed to extinguish the flames that had engulfed the wreckage of the Hercules transport plane.
General Sergio Lora of the Bolivian Air Force provided an update on the crew's status late on Friday, revealing a somber detail: two of the aircraft's six crew members remained unaccounted for as search and recovery operations continued into the evening. The general confirmed the plane had indeed collected its cargo of new banknotes in Santa Cruz prior to the fatal flight.
Airport Operations Suspended Following the Crash
The Bolivian Air Navigation and Airports Authority, known as NAABOL, issued an official statement regarding the incident. The authority confirmed the C-130's departure from Santa Cruz and its subsequent crash during the landing phase at El Alto International Airport. As a direct result of the accident and the ongoing emergency response, airport authorities made the decision to suspend all flight operations at the facility, causing significant disruption to air travel in the region.
This tragic event marks one of the most unusual and devastating aviation incidents in recent Bolivian history, combining significant loss of life, major property destruction, and the bizarre spectacle of a cash-laden military aircraft meeting its end on a public highway.
