Bogotá: A military plane has crashed in Colombia, killing 66 people.
The Colombian Defense Minister said that the Air Force C-130 plane crashed in the southern region. The plane took off from Puerto Leguizamo, near the Peruvian border.
Firefighters expressed concern that the plane might have hit something near the end of the runway as it took off.
Firefighters said that as the plane was falling rapidly, one of its wings hit a tree. After the crash, the plane caught fire, and some kind of explosive device exploded.
According to Colombian authorities, there were 121 people on board the plane, including 110 soldiers. The search for the others is ongoing. An investigation has been launched to determine the causes of the accident.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed regret over the plane crash and said that he would not allow further delays in the plan to modernize the military fleet.
