At least 20 individuals lost their lives in a tragic incident when a Bolivian military cargo plane transporting banknotes crashed during landing near La Paz, the capital, causing chaos as crowds attempted to seize the scattered money. The aircraft, a C-130 Hercules transport plane produced by Lockheed Martin, veered off the runway at El Alto International Airport and collided with an avenue, resulting in destruction of multiple vehicles and damage to trucks, as shown in footage from local media.
Witnesses described the weather conditions as severe, with heavy hail and lightning occurring at the time of the crash. Cristina Choque, a 60-year-old vendor whose car was hit by debris from the plane, recounted the terrifying experience, mentioning that her daughter sustained a head injury from the tire that fell on them.
Authorities took swift action, including deploying tear gas to disperse the crowds attempting to grab the scattered money. Subsequently, the money was set on fire at the crash site in an effort to prevent further chaos. The cause of the crash remains unknown, prompting the Ministry of Defense to initiate an investigation into the incident.
Both Colonel Rene Tambo and Colonel Pavel Tovar provided casualty figures, estimating around 20 fatalities and between 15 to 16 deaths, respectively. Additionally, Bolivia’s health ministry reported that at least 28 individuals sustained injuries as a result of the crash.
The Bolivian Air Navigation and Airports authority NAABOL disclosed that the C-130 Hercules had departed from Santa Cruz and crashed during its landing at El Alto International Airport, leading to the suspension of airport operations. The defense ministry emphasized that the money aboard the crashed aircraft lacked official serial numbers and therefore held no legal or monetary value, warning that its possession or use constituted a criminal offense.
Amid the tragic event, law enforcement agencies arrested twelve individuals suspected of engaging in criminal activities at the crash site, while hospitals in El Alto initiated a blood donation campaign to assist the injured. La Paz, situated at a high altitude of 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) and surrounded by Andean peaks, stands as the world’s highest administrative capital.
