Bolivian Military C-130 Carrying Banknotes Crashes Near La Paz
A C-130 military cargo plane veered off El Alto runway, scattering newly printed banknotes and killing roughly 11 to 15 people, officials said.
BBC NewsAt least 11 killed after military plane carrying banknotes crashes in Bolivia
ABC NewsCargo plane crashes shortly after takeoff in Bolivia, killing at least 15 people
Associated PressCargo plane carrying money crashes near Bolivia's capital, killing at least 15 people, official says
Overview
A Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules veered off the runway at El Alto and crashed, leaving roughly 11 to 15 people dead, officials said.
The plane was transporting newly printed Bolivian banknotes from Santa Cruz to the Central Bank, according to the defence ministry and the Central Bank president.
Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas and Bolivian Air Force Gen. Sergio Lora confirmed the C-130 was involved, said an investigation is under way, and said two of six crew members had not been found.
Fire Chief Pavel Tovar said debris and destroyed cars littered a nearby highway, at least 15 vehicles were damaged, and authorities temporarily suspended all flights to and from the terminal.
Videos and images showed scattered bills and people collecting them while police in riot gear tried to disperse crowds, and firefighters extinguished flames at the scene as authorities investigated.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this crash with restrained language, relying on official statements, fire chief and military briefings, plus social media images. They present conflicting casualty details and ongoing investigation without evaluative adjectives or speculation, and include factual operational impacts (flight suspensions), so overall coverage reads as neutral and factual.
FAQ
The cause of the crash has not been determined. Authorities have launched an investigation, but search results do not specify what caused the aircraft to veer off the runway during landing at El Alto International Airport.
The exact amount of currency being transported was not disclosed. Central Bank President David Espinoza stated that the banknotes had no legal value because they never entered circulation, but he did not specify the total amount involved in the transport.[3]
The search results show that people rushed to collect the scattered banknotes, but they do not explain the motivations behind this behavior. Police and military personnel responded by dispersing crowds and eventually burning the cash boxes in the presence of Central Bank officials.[3]
Fire Chief Pavel Tovar did not clarify whether the at least 15 deaths were among the plane's crew, passengers, or motorists in vehicles struck by the aircraft.[4] Air Force General Sergio Lora reported that two of the six crew members were still missing, suggesting some crew fatalities, but the exact breakdown between crew and ground casualties remains unclear.[2]
La Paz, served by El Alto International Airport, is located at an altitude of 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) and is surrounded by Andean peaks, making it the highest administrative capital in the world.[1] This extreme elevation can affect aircraft performance during landing and takeoff, though the search results do not directly connect this factor to the crash's cause.
