• A Colombian Air Force Hercules C-130 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing at least 66 individuals.
• Among the 125 aboard, 57 rescue survivors are being treated for injuries.
• President Gustavo Petro criticizes the use of secondhand military aircraft, linking the crash to outdated equipment.
• Investigators are probing the crash, which occurred near Puerto Leguizamo in Putumayo province.
• Videos and local accounts describe a loud explosion before the plane crashed.

A military transport plane belonging to the Colombian Air Force crashed shortly after taking off on March 23, resulting in at least 66 fatalities. The Hercules C-130 aircraft, carrying 125 individuals, went down in Puerto Leguizamo, located near the borders of Peru and Ecuador. Initial rescue efforts reported that 57 survivors were rescued and are currently being treated for injuries, although many remain missing, according to SCMP, Channel News Asia, and Los Angeles Times.

Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez described the incident as a "tragic accident," emphasizing the loss felt across the nation. Local footage depicted thick smoke emanating from the crash site and audio from witnesses recounted hearing an explosion just before the aircraft went down. An investigation into the causes is ongoing, with preliminary reports suggesting that the plane may have encountered problems shortly after takeoff from a small airport, according to Los Angeles Times, Le Monde, and India Times.

The Colombian President criticized the use of secondhand military planes, pointing out that the Hercules C-130 had been donated by the U.S. and underwent an overhaul in 2023. Petro stated, "An army cannot defend its own people with crappy gifts," urging for modernization of the military’s equipment to prevent such tragedies. He raised concerns regarding bureaucratic issues hampering necessary upgrades, which he attributes to the current crisis surrounding military safety, according to Los Angeles Times and BBC.

Rescue operations were compounded by the remote location’s challenging geography, making access difficult for recovery teams. Videos showed local residents rushing injured soldiers to hospitals on motorcycles as emergency protocols were activated. Analysts anticipate the investigation will take time to determine the precise cause of the crash, especially given the complexities of the aircraft's history and operational safety, as outlined by Los Angeles Times, BBC, and Los Angeles Times.