Overview
- The military transport plane, which crashed Monday shortly after takeoff from Puerto Leguízamo in remote Putumayo, was carrying roughly 125 people including about 114 soldiers and 11 civilians.
- Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed the crash, said victim assistance protocols are active, and stated that investigators are working to determine the cause.
- Rescue teams and local residents have pulled at least 48 injured from the wreck, while authorities have not released a confirmed death toll.
- President Gustavo Petro said the tragedy should not have happened and blamed bureaucratic delays for slowing his plan to modernize the armed forces.
- The jungle terrain and limited hospitals in Putumayo are slowing evacuations, and early counts remain fluid, with one outlet reporting at least 66 dead that officials have not verified.