Fresh Tragedy as Plane Crash Kills 20 People; Location Emerges

At least 20 people have been confirmed dead after a Bolivian military cargo plane transporting a large sum of money crashed while landing near La Paz, authorities said on Friday.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as bystanders attempted to grab the scattered cash.

Plane crashes during landing at El Alto airport

The aircraft, a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, veered off the runway at El Alto International Airport and collided with a busy avenue, destroying multiple vehicles.

Footage from local media showed mangled plane debris strewn across the road, while crowds rushed to collect banknotes scattered by the impact.

Colonel Rene Tambo, head of the police homicide division in El Alto, said: “There are about 20, maybe a few more, casualties.”

Earlier, Colonel Pavel Tovar of the National Fire Department had reported “between 15 and 16 people” killed, adding, “We are recovering the bodies of these people who have sadly suffered in the accident.”

The Bolivian Health Ministry confirmed at least 28 people were injured, some seriously. Treacherous weather may have contributed Witnesses reported harsh weather at the time of the crash.

Cristina Choque, a 60-year-old vendor whose car was hit by debris, said: “A heavy hailstorm was falling and there was lightning when the plane went down. The tyre is what fell on top of us… my daughter is injured, she has a head wound.”

The Ministry of Defence has announced it will launch a full investigation into the cause of the crash.