Bolivia military plane crash kills 15 near La Paz

2026-02-28 - 07:12

A Bolivia military plane crash near La Paz left at least 15 people dead and more than 30 injured after a Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules skidded off the runway at El Alto International Airport and slammed into traffic on Friday evening. The aircraft, which was transporting newly printed Bolivian banknotes, struck multiple vehicles before coming to a halt in a nearby field, according to local authorities.Crash during landing at El Alto airport Officials said the incident occurred at approximately 6:20 p.m. local time as the cargo plane was attempting to land at El Alto International Airport, located in the high-altitude city of El Alto adjacent to the capital, La Paz. The aircraft had departed from Santa Cruz, Bolivia’s largest city and economic hub in the east of the country. Bolivia’s air navigation authority reported that investigators are examining whether the accident happened during the landing roll or another critical phase of flight. Casualties and emergency response Fire chief Pavel Tovar stated that rescue teams were still working to determine whether the fatalities occurred among military personnel on board or civilians traveling along the highway. Emergency services extinguished a blaze triggered by the crash, while ambulances transported dozens of injured individuals to nearby hospitals. Images from the scene showed heavily damaged vehicles scattered across the roadway. Banknotes scattered across highway The aircraft was carrying newly printed Bolivian currency, which was thrown onto the road upon impact. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as residents rushed toward the scattered banknotes, prompting police in riot gear to secure the crash site. Authorities used water hoses and cordons to disperse crowds and protect the debris field as investigators began examining the wreckage. Bolivia’s Defense Ministry has not yet released detailed operational information regarding the military flight. The incident marks one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Bolivia in recent years and is likely to renew scrutiny over flight safety procedures at high-altitude airports in the Andean nation.