Colombian Military Plane Crashes with Over 100 Soldiers

A Colombian military transport plane carrying more than 100 soldiers crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday in the remote town of Puerto Leguízamo, in the southern province of Putumayo near the Peruvian border, officials said. The incident involved a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft, and the number of casualties remains undetermined as rescue operations continue.

Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed the crash in a statement on X, describing it as a tragic accident that occurred while the plane was transporting troops from the armed forces. He noted that military units and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the site, located about three kilometers from the urban center. Sánchez did not provide details on the exact number of people aboard but expressed condolences to the affected families and called the event profoundly painful for the country. "We hope that our prayers can help to relieve some of the pain," he wrote.

President Gustavo Petro also addressed the crash on X, expressing hope that there would be no fatalities in what he called a horrific accident that should never have happened. He linked the incident to longstanding issues with the military's...