By Trendsetter Tribune 
On Monday, March 23, 2026, a Colombian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules (registration FAC1016) crashed shortly after takeoff from Caucayá Airport in Puerto Leguízamo, a remote region in the Putumayo department near the borders of Peru and Ecuador.
As of Tuesday morning, the situation remains dire as rescue teams work through the wreckage in the dense Amazonian jungle.
Casualties and Survivors
While initial reports were fluid, current figures from Colombian military and civil authorities indicate a high loss of life:
- Death Toll: At least 66 people are confirmed dead, including 58 soldiers, 6 air force crew members, and 2 police officers.
- Injuries: At least 77 people were rescued with various injuries. Residents of Puerto Leguízamo were the first on the scene, using motorcycles and private vehicles to rush wounded soldiers to local clinics before they were airlifted to Bogotá for specialized care.
- Missing: Officials report that 4 personnel remain unaccounted for as search operations continue.
Details of the Accident
The aircraft was on a routine troop transport mission, carrying approximately 125 to 128 people—mostly members of the Army’s 27th Jungle Brigade—to the city of Puerto Asís.
- The Crash: Video footage captured by local residents shows the plane struggling to gain altitude after takeoff before banking sharply and plunging into the vegetation roughly 1.5 km (0.9 miles) from the runway.
- Post-Crash Fire: The impact triggered a massive fire that was exacerbated by the detonation of ammunition being carried on board by the soldiers.
- Cause Under Investigation: Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez has officially ruled out an attack by illegal armed groups in the region, describing it as a “tragic accident.” He noted the aircraft had undergone a complete structural overhaul between 2021 and 2023 and was considered airworthy.
Political Response
President Gustavo Petro described the event as a “horrific accident that should never have happened.” He has used the tragedy to criticize “bureaucratic obstacles” that he claims have delayed his administration’s efforts to modernize the military’s aging transport fleet, suggesting that officials responsible for these delays may face removal.