At least 15 people were killed and more than 30 injured after a Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules cargo plane crashed while landing in the western city of El Alto, according to government officials.
The aircraft went down at about 6:15 p.m. local time as it approached El Alto International Airport from Santa Cruz. Authorities said the plane skidded off the runway and struck nearby vehicles.
The Defense Ministry confirmed the aircraft was transporting banknotes for the Central Bank of Bolivia at the time of the crash. Eight crew members were on board, including flight and cargo personnel.
Police used tear gas to disperse crowds after some individuals attempted to seize scattered banknotes from the crash site. Officials said several arrests were made.
Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas warned that the transported currency had no legal value because it had not yet been issued or assigned serial numbers.
Bolivia’s Health Ministry issued an urgent call for blood donations as hospitals treated dozens of injured victims. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with some witnesses citing severe weather, including hail and lightning, at the time of the incident.
