At least one person was killed and 77 others hospitalized when a Colombian Air Force plane carrying 125 people crashed just after takeoff deep in the country's southern Amazon region on Monday (March 23), authorities said.

The status of more than 40 people on board is yet to be confirmed, President Gustavo Petro said in a post on X.

Colombian Air Force Commander Fernando Silva said in a video posted on social media that the plane was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members, and that authorities were still investigating the cause of the crash.

Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said earlier on X the accident happened as the Lockheed Martin-built LMT.N Hercules C-130 was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo on the border with Peru, as it transported troops.

Online video showed rescue team and military personnel working near the plane wreck, Reuters confirmed the location from the topography mapping and nearby buildings which matched satellite imagery. Coordinates of the crash: -0.178860, -74.793860. The date when the footage was filmed was verified by original file metadata. Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said the accident happened as the Lockheed Martin-built LMT.N Hercules C-130 was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo on the border with Peru.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Eyewitness video shows the aftermath of the plane crash in Colombia. Video credit @La Voz de Amazonia – Mare Rafue

VIDEO SHOWS: RESCUE TEAM AND MILITARY OFFICERS ON THE CRASH SITE

VERIFIED BY:

- Topography mapping and nearby buildings matched satellite imagery

- Coordinates of the crash: -0.178860, -74.793860

- Date verified by original file metadata

- Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez said the accident happened as the Lockheed Martin-built LMT.N Hercules C-130 was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo on the border with Peru

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PUERTO LEGUIZAMO, PUTUMAYO, COLOMBIA (MARCH 23, 2026) (LA VOZ DE AMAZONIA – MARE RAFUE - Must on-screen courtesy La Voz de Amazonia – Mare Rafue)

1. MILITARY PERSONNEL, RESCUE TEAMS AND CIVILIANS SURROUNDING THE PLANE WRECK