Colombia Military Plane Crash Kills 66, El Tiempo Reports

Smoke rises from an Air Force Hercules that crashed during takeoff in Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia, on March 23. — Smoke rises from an Air Force Hercules that crashed during takeoff in Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia, on March 23.Photographer: Daniel Ortiz/AFP/Getty Images

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By Patricia Laya

March 23, 2026 at 7:01 PM UTC

Updated on

March 24, 2026 at 2:45 AM UTC

Lea en español

A Colombian military plane crashed shortly after takeoff in southwest Colombia on Monday, killing at least 66 service members, according to local newspaper El Tiempo.