At least 15 individuals lost their lives and around a dozen vehicles were damaged in the incident in Bolivia
A military cargo plane transporting significant amounts of freshly printed cash crashed onto a busy highway near Bolivia’s administrative capital late Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people and triggering chaotic scenes as banknotes littered the crash site.
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane, operated by the Bolivian Air Force, lost control and slid off the runway while attempting to land amid poor weather conditions in El Alto, a city adjacent to La Paz. Local media reported that the aircraft was carrying currency from the country’s central bank to regional cities.
After leaving the airport grounds, the plane struck multiple vehicles before its debris came to rest in a nearby field, Fire Chief Pavel Tovar told reporters. At least a dozen vehicles were damaged, with charred wreckage and bodies reportedly scattered along the roadway.
Emergency responders put out the flames engulfing the aircraft while rescuers searched damaged cars for survivors. Authorities have not yet clarified whether the fatalities were passengers on the plane or motorists caught in the crash.
Al menos 15 muertos y 30 heridos deja accidente de avión de la Fuerza Aérea de en la ciudad de El Alto
— David de la Paz 戴维 (@daviddelapaz)
Videos circulating online appear to show crowds rushing toward the wreckage and apparently scrambling for bills strewn across the highway following the impact.
Police and emergency crews reportedly used water hoses and riot-control measures to disperse people trying to approach the crash zone as investigators secured the area.
Other images broadcast by television stations showed extensive structural damage to the aircraft’s fuselage and crushed civilian vehicles lining the avenue.
Operations at El Alto International Airport were temporarily suspended after the incident. Authorities have launched an investigation into the crash’s cause, focusing on weather conditions and possible mechanical failure shortly after takeoff.