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At least 20 people have been killed after a Bolivian Air Force plane crashed into the streets of El Alto, La Paz, Bolivia. This saw the aircraft slide onto the streets, killing many and injuring dozens. There were eight people on the flight, which had originated in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
The Bolivian Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the aircraft was transporting an undisclosed amount of unissued banknotes to the city of La Paz on behalf of the Central Bank of Bolivia. Initial reports indicate that the aircraft veered off the runway and crashed into nearby Avenida Constanera (Constanera Avenue) before coming to rest in a nearby field. This destroyed several vehicles, while also killing and injuring many bystanders.
Veered Off The Runway
As depicted in the map above, Avenida Constanera sits at the western end of the runway at El Alto International Airport (LPB), the highest international airport by elevation in the world (13,325 feet / 4,061 meters). The airport is the highest commercial airport in the world outside of China.
Following the incident, the airport was closed for operations, affecting several domestic and international flights. It remains unclear what caused the crash; witnesses have confirmed to the Agence France-Press, and recirculated by the Guardian, that the weather was ‘treacherous’.
Witness reports have stated that heavy hailstorms were occurring when the aircraft touched down at El Alto, and the plane then veered off the runway and struck vehicles and people before coming to rest. The Bolivian Ministry of Defence has immediately launched an investigation into the aircraft crash.
Over 20 Dead
With a path of wreckage and damage strewn across Avenida Constanera and into a nearby fiield, authhorities including the National Fire Department, gave initial reports of 15 to 16 people being killed, these numbers have since increased. The Bolivian Health Ministry has reported that at least 28 were injured, but that number is expected to rise. Following the incident, the Bolivian Health Department has put out a call for locals to donate blood to help support the injured victims.
The aircraft at the centre of the incident was a Lockheed C-130H Hercules, operated by the Bolivian Air Force. It carried registration FAB-81. It carries serial number 382-4759 and was manufactured in 1977. Further details and history of the aircraft are scarce; however, suggestions from AirHistory.net comment that the place was delivered to the Bolivian Air Force in 1977, and has carried multiple roles within the military for Bolivia since.
Developed by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin), the Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transportation aircraft that is designed to be capable of unprepared takeoffs and landings. It has a versatile airframe that can be used for airborne assault, search and rescue, reconnaissance, maritime patrol, and aerial firefighting. It is a tactical airlifter for many forces around the world. There are more than 40 derived variants of the Hercules, including civilian versions.
Turkish C-130 Carrying 20 People Crashes In Georgia
The military transport suffered a midair catastrophe.
Locals Rushed To Collect The Bank Notes
Initial videos and pictures shared of the incident show banknotes have been scattered around the crash site, with many locals near the aircraft collecting the notes. These actions hindered initial rescue efforts, and the people were later dispersed by authorities with water hoses. Dozens of people have now been arrested for those actions.
Similar to the aircraft above, the C-130, as already mentioned, was carrying an undisclosed amount ofunissuedd bank notes for the Central Bank of Bolivia. Given that these banknotes are not yet issued, they will not contain any monetary value, and the authorities ended up burning the remaining banknotes on site.
El Alto International Airport is located in the city of El Alto, eight miles (13 km) from downtown La Paz. It is operated by Navegación Aérea y Aeropuertos Bolivianos (NAABOL), and has just six airlines operating to LPB. Commercial flights are offered by Avianca (Bogota and Cusco), Boliviana de Aviación (domestic and international routes – this is Bolivia’s flag carrier), EcoJet (domestic), LATAM Chile (Santiago), LATAM Peru (Lima)
