Hercules aircraft crashes near La Paz, hits 15 cars - Fatalities reported, millions in banknotes on board
Photo: Plane crash (Getty Images)
A military aircraft carrying freshly printed banknotes crashed near La Paz in Bolivia, leaving at least 15 people dead, with scattered cash causing chaos at the crash site, according to AP.
On Friday, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft carrying newly printed Bolivian banknotes crashed near La Paz.
The accident occurred in the El Alto area. According to fire officials, the aircraft landed but veered off the runway during touchdown and collided with several vehicles.
At least 15 people were killed and 30 injured, according to official figures.
Bolivia’s defence minister Marcelo Salinas said the aircraft belonged to the country’s air force and had arrived from Santa Cruz de la Sierra. A fire broke out after the crash but was later extinguished. Fire chief Pablo Tovar said at least 15 vehicles were damaged. Authorities have not yet clarified whether the fatalities include crew members or only people on the ground. Two of the six crew members remain missing.
Hundreds of thousands of banknotes were scattered around the crash site. Footage circulating on social media shows wreckage, destroyed vehicles, and cash strewn across the area. Witnesses reportedly rushed to collect the banknotes, complicating rescue operations. More than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers were deployed to secure the scene.
Central Bank president David Espinoza said the scattered banknotes have no legal validity, as they had not yet been put into circulation. Some of the cash was destroyed in the presence of bank officials. The total amount being transported has not been disclosed.
Flights to and from El Alto Airport have been temporarily suspended pending the investigation.
Earlier, on February 25, an F-16 fighter jet crashed onto a busy highway in Turkey, killing the pilot.
