11 killed after military plane crashes
Tragically, at least 11 people lost their lives when a Bolivian air force cargo plane crashed in the western city of El Alto, as reported by various media outlets citing firefighters.
The accident occurred on Friday, February 27, 2026, while the plane was approaching El Alto’s airport after coming from Santa Cruz, according to aviation officials. It seems the aircraft skidded off the runway and collided with nearby vehicles.
The defense ministry later confirmed that its C-130 Hercules was involved in the incident, revealing it was transporting banknotes to the Central Bank of Bolivia. However, they didn’t disclose how many people were on board or provide any casualty figures.
In response, police used tear gas to break up crowds that were attempting to grab the scattered banknotes.
Footage captured the chaos, showing people fleeing from the tear gas while police officers, some equipped with shields, formed a line. Among the crowd, some individuals were seen hurling rocks at the police.
The wreckage of the crashed plane was visible on the ground, along with severely damaged vehicles appearing in other videos.
“I want to make it clear to anyone trying to profit from the money associated with this tragic incident that it holds no legal value. It hasn’t been issued by the Central Bank and lacks a serial number, so attempting to use it is a crime,” stated Minister of Defence, Marcelo Salinas.
“We also urge those engaging in vandalism in this area to stop and to honor the mourning and grief we are all experiencing during this tough time.”
Firefighters at the crash site reported that at least 20 people sustained injuries, according to local media.
El Alto International Airport was temporarily shut down following the crash.
“My sister was in the car when the plane went down. A tyre from the plane landed on the car, injuring her on the head, so we rushed her to the hospital,” a man shared with Reuters.
The cause of the crash remains unclear, but some witnesses mentioned that the weather conditions were quite dangerous at the time.
A woman whose car was hit by the wreckage of the plane told the AFP news agency, “A heavy hailstorm was falling, and there was lightning when the plane went down.” An investigation into the incident is currently underway.
11 killed after military plane crashes
