At least 66 people lost their lives when a military aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday in southwestern Colombia, officials confirmed. Authorities said the aircraft was carrying 125 people. Many others were injured in the incident.

Local government secretary Carlos Claros told RCN television that 48 people suffered injuries. He said rescue teams were working to evacuate them. Earlier reports had confirmed only eight deaths, but the toll later rose sharply.

Crash Occurs in Remote Amazon Region

The aircraft went down in a remote part of Colombia’s southern Amazon region. Reports said it was carrying more than 100 people, including troops.

Gustavo Petro said that the status of over 40 people on board remains unclear. Authorities continue search and rescue operations in the difficult terrain.

In a video statement, Air Force Commander Fernando Silva confirmed that the plane had 114 passengers and 11 crew members. He added that officials are investigating the cause of the crash.

How the Aircraft Went Down

The accident involved a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules. The plane crashed just after taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, a town near the Peru border. Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said the crash happened during takeoff.

Videos shared on social media appeared to show the aircraft diving nose-first seconds after leaving the ground. Another clip showed thick smoke rising from the crash site. However, the authenticity of these videos has not been independently verified.

A military plane with more than 100 soldiers on board crashed in Colombia. According to Caracol radio station, the American-built Hercules C-130 aircraft of the country's Air Force crashed immediately after taking off from the city of Puerto Leguízamo. pic.twitter.com/026TQyHhAv

— Kordon (@Kordoneuropa) March 23, 2026

Reports said the crash site lies about 3 kilometres from a nearby urban area.

President Criticises Delays in Military Upgrades

Before the full scale of the tragedy became clear, President Petro raised concerns about delays in modernising the country’s military equipment.

He said, “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.”

He warned that if the plan is not approved, “civilian or military administrative officials” must be removed. He stressed that no further delays would be accepted.

Petro added, “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.”

Investigation Underway

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the crash. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors and assist the injured.

The incident marks one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the region in recent times.