A Colombian Air Force plane crashed near Puerto Leguízamo. This happened shortly after it took off. The town is in the southern Amazon region. Sadly, at least 66 people died in the crash. The plane was close to the border with Peru. Many army soldiers, crew members, and two police officers lost their lives. A fire and ammunition explosions made the situation much worse. The country is very sad about this terrible event. Investigations have started. They will look into the condition of Colombia's military planes.
The plane was carrying 127 people. The Defence Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said it was a "tragic accident." He also said it was "deeply sad for the country." Witnesses said the plane had problems right after it left the ground. It fell quickly and uncontrollably. The crash caused a big fire and explosions. This made rescue work very difficult.
Rescue teams started working very quickly. Soldiers and emergency workers tried to find survivors. They pulled 77 people from the wreckage. Many of these people were hurt badly. Pictures showed soldiers taking injured people away on motorcycles. This shows the remote area has few roads. This crash is one of the worst air accidents for the Colombian Air Force.
The reason for the crash is still being investigated. The Defence Minister called it a "tragic accident." They are checking for mechanical problems. The plane was a C-130 Hercules. It was made by Lockheed Martin in the US. These planes have been used for many years. This crash makes people worry about the age of Colombia's military planes. President Gustavo Petro mentioned problems with buying new planes. He said "bureaucratic difficulties" are causing delays. This tragedy will likely lead to more calls for action. The nation is mourning its lost service members. It also hopes for the recovery of the injured.