August 15, 2026 04:42 am (IST)

Make this your homepage

Foreign

Ajit Doval breaks silence on Operation Sindoor in Discovery’s explosive new docuseries | Rahul Gandhi's 'mock hug' taunt sparks row; Centre stresses 'mutual respect' with Italy | Delhi on high alert: Bomb threat to High Court, airport and multiple locations ahead of I-Day | ‘Who are they to interfere?’: CJI Surya Kant slams Bar Council of India over NALSAR students’ enrolment row | 'Shows how low Congress has sunk': BJP slams Rahul Gandhi over Modi foreign policy jibe | From guns to glamour: Former women Maoists walk the ramp in Chhattisgarh | Netaji row: Suvendu Adhikari govt strips BJP MP Anant Maharaj of state honour | Sukhbir Badal attacked by Nihang Sikh with kirpan at Maharashtra gurdwara; assailant detained | ‘If you cannot do it, we will pass an order’: Supreme Court’s final warning to Centre on food labels | ‘Time to move on’: Bombay HC sends strong message in Vijay Mallya-bank dispute

Colombia military plane crashes near Puerto Leguizamo. Photo: X/Videograb.

Colombian Air Force plane crashes on takeoff near Puerto Leguizamo, casualties feared

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | Mar 23, 2026, at 10:43 pm

A military transport aircraft belonging to the Colombian Air Force crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday, raising fears of significant casualties, media reports said.

Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed “deep sorrow” as he confirmed that a Hercules aircraft went down near Puerto Leguizamo, close to the country’s southern border with Ecuador.

Colombian Air Force C-130 Hercules carrying 110 soldiers crashes near Peru border shortly after departing Puerto Leguízamo. #Colombia #ColombiaAirForce #ColombiaPlaneCrash pic.twitter.com/qsx1ByXHOv
— India Blooms (@indiablooms) March 23, 2026

State broadcaster RCN aired visuals showing a severely damaged fuselage engulfed in flames in a forested area.

The Hercules transport plane is typically capable of carrying around 100 personnel, fuelling concerns over the scale of the tragedy.

BREAKING: Colombian Air Force plane carrying approximately 110 people has crashed near Puerto Leguízamo, according to the defense minister. pic.twitter.com/tIKHbOIKp4
— Conflict Alarm (@ConflictAlarm) March 23, 2026

“Military units are already at the scene. However, the number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been confirmed,” Sanchez said in a statement posted on social media.

Calling it “a deeply painful event for the country,” the minister added, “May our prayers bring some measure of comfort.”

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, while rescue and recovery efforts remain underway.

#Columbia # Air Force Plane Crash # puerto Legzium # Pedro Sánchez # Columbia Plane Crash # Colombian Air Force

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.