No fewer than 15 people have been confirmed dead and dozens of others injured after a Bolivian Air Force cargo aircraft crashed while attempting to land in the western city of El Alto, authorities have announced.
The accident occurred on Friday evening at about 18:15 local time (22:15 GMT) as the aircraft approached El Alto International Airport from Santa Cruz, according to aviation officials.
Preliminary reports indicate the plane lost control during landing, veered off the runway, and slammed into vehicles near the airport perimeter.
Bolivia’s Defence Ministry later identified the aircraft as a C-130 Hercules operated by the Air Force, according to the BBC.
Officials disclosed that the plane was transporting consignments of banknotes intended for delivery to the Central Bank of Bolivia.
Air Force Commander Sergio Lora confirmed that eight personnel, including flight crew and cargo handlers, were onboard at the time of the crash.
Chaos reportedly erupted shortly after the incident as crowds gathered at the crash site, with some individuals attempting to collect banknotes scattered by the impact.
The police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd and restore order, while videos circulating online showed damaged vehicles, smoke at the crash scene, and security officers forming barricades amid confrontations with civilians.
The National Association of Journalists of Bolivia condemned attacks on media personnel covering the disaster, alleging that some individuals seeking to seize the money assaulted reporters.
The group said a television broadcast vehicle was deliberately targeted, and several journalists sustained injuries after being struck with stones.
State media reported that at least 12 suspects were arrested for allegedly stealing banknotes from the crash site.
The Defence Minister Marcelo Salinas warned members of the public against attempting to use the recovered currency, stating that the banknotes were not yet legally issued and carried no serial numbers.
He stressed that possessing or attempting to circulate them constituted a criminal offence and urged residents to respect the mourning period following the tragedy.
Bolivia’s Health Ministry confirmed that 31 people sustained injuries and issued an emergency appeal for blood donations to assist victims receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
Authorities temporarily shut down operations at El Alto International Airport as emergency responders worked at the scene.
Eyewitnesses described moments of panic during the crash.
One resident reportedly said that his sister was inside a vehicle struck by debris when part of the aircraft landed on it, leaving her with head injuries that required urgent medical attention.
Several witnesses also pointed to severe weather conditions at the time of the incident, reporting heavy hail and lightning shortly before the aircraft went down.
Officials said the exact cause of the crash remains unknown, and a formal investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the disaster.
