A routine landing turned into chaos when a military cargo plane skidded off the runway and ploughed into traffic near Bolivia’s capital.
At least 15 people were killed and more than 30 injured after a Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules crashed Friday evening near El Alto International Airport.
Authorities said the aircraft, which had departed from Santa Cruz, veered off the runway around 6:20 pm local time while landing in El Alto, striking multiple vehicles on a busy road before coming to rest in a nearby field.
Officials confirmed the plane damaged about a dozen cars. Emergency crews are still determining whether the fatalities occurred onboard or among motorists caught in the crash. Firefighters later extinguished flames triggered by the impact.
The aircraft was reportedly transporting newly printed Bolivian banknotes, which spilled across the roadway, creating chaotic scenes as residents rushed to gather scattered cash while riot police tried to secure the area. Water hoses were used to push crowds back from the debris zone.
The Defence Ministry has yet to release detailed operational findings, while the state air navigation authority continues investigating whether the accident happened during landing or takeoff.
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