At least 34 people were killed and several others injured when a Colombian military transport plane crashed in the Puerto Leguízamo area of Putumayo province on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed the incident on social media, stating that the aircraft went down about 1.5 kilometers after takeoff. The crash triggered a fire and explosions from onboard ammunition, worsening the damage.

Putumayo Governor John Gabriel Molina told local media that 21 of the victims have yet to be identified. The Colombian Air Force said the aircraft was a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules model transporting soldiers to another city in the province. Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva reported that two special aircraft with 74 beds were dispatched to evacuate the injured to hospitals in Bogotá and other locations.

Authorities confirmed that the crash was not caused by any armed group attack. Officials warned that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue in the Amazon border region near Peru and Ecuador.