On March 23, Colombian military aircraft, known as the Lockheed C-130H Hercules, crashed into a dense jungle when taking off from the Caucayá Airport in Puerto Leguízamo. The plane was en route to Tres de Mayo Airport in Puerto Asís. Of the 126 onboard, 69 have been confirmed dead, with 56 survivors and 14 of them in critical condition.
The Lockheed C-130H Hercules was manufactured in 1984 and delivered to Colombia in September 2020 as part of the U.S. Excess Defense Articles program. Since 2022, the Colombian Military has experienced six prior aviation accidents, causing political concerns regarding the sustainability of the country’s air fleet.
Investigators believe the plane lost altitude shortly after takeoff and struck terrain near the end of the runway, crashing into dense jungle near Colombia’s border with Peru. A post‑crash fire broke out, and ammunition on board detonated, complicating rescue efforts. This accident serves as the second-deadliest crash involving the Colombian Aerospace Force’s Hercules C-130 aircraft, with the first having occurred about a month prior, on Feb. 27.
Among the deceased, six were Air Force crew members, two were police officers, and the rest were National Army. The Colombian government has announced that the country will go into three days of mourning following this accident. Defense Minister Sanchez noted that the aircraft involved was “airworthy” at the time of the crash, and that the crew was “duly qualified.”
The Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, stressed his efforts to modernize the country’s military, blaming “bureaucratic problems” for delaying the process. He also went on to condemn the United States by calling the C-130 involved an “extremely expensive” and “crappy gift.” He placed the blame on the previous administration for accepting donated equipment, insinuating that the cost of maintaining the aircraft was more than buying a new one, and that the aircraft was given to them because it “no longer served” the United States. Iván Duque, the former president, defended his administration’s handling, stating that the C-130 is operated by many countries globally, and maintenance protocols were carried out on the aircraft before it was donated to Colombia. Duque criticized Petro for his statement shortly after the incident, telling him to refrain from making additional comments during the ongoing investigation.
A Lockheed Martin spokesperson released a statement that the company is committed to aiding the country in its investigation of the crash. Additionally, government officials from Panama, Ecuador, Spain, and Venezuela have expressed their condolences to the government and people of Colombia, as well as the victims and families of the crash. They have offered their support and help as the investigation is underway.