Bolivia military plane crash near El Alto International Airport; casualties, scary visuals emerge | Video

A military Hercules aircraft crashed near El Alto International Airport, causing deaths and injuries.

Updated on: Feb 28, 2026, 06:59:52 IST

By Prakriti Deb

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A Bolivian Air Force aircraft crashed onto a busy roadway near El Alto International Airport on Friday evening, per local time, leaving at least 15 people dead and injuring dozens, according to media reports and officials.

The crash occurred around 6 pm in El Alto, a city adjacent to Bolivia’s capital, La Paz. (X/ @SA_Defensa)

The crash occurred around 6 pm in El Alto, a city adjacent to Bolivia’s capital, La Paz. An X post by SA Defensa, which tracks South American and global defence developments, said a Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules went down near the airport.

Aircraft skidded off runway

According to Sky News, the military Hercules aircraft had departed from Santa Cruz and was transporting newly printed banknotes to other parts of the country. Local broadcaster Unitel, citing Bolivia’s Ministry of Defence, said the plane crashed after landing and skidding off the runway onto a neighbouring street.

Fire Chief Pavel Tovar told the Associated Press that at least 15 people had died. He did not clarify whether the fatalities were passengers on board the aircraft or people in vehicles on the highway near the airport.

Also Read: Savannah Hilton Head International Airport: Fire seen off runway; scary videos emerge

He added that there were several injured.

Authorities have not yet released a detailed breakdown of casualties.

Bills scattered, chaotic scenes captured on video

Reuters reported that videos circulating on social media showed chaotic scenes in the aftermath, with banknotes apparently strewn across the roadway.

Some clips appeared to show people attempting to pick up the scattered cash as emergency responders worked at the site.

Local authorities were seen using water hoses to disperse crowds, according to the report. Reuters noted it was unable to independently verify the footage.

Also Read: Afghan Air pilot lands on wrong runway at Delhi airport; probe ordered

Television images broadcast by local media showed the aircraft severely damaged, along with multiple crushed or wrecked vehicles along the road where the crash occurred.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is expected, with further updates likely as officials assess the damage and confirm casualty figures.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Prakriti Deb
Prakriti Deb is a journalist at Hindustan Times Digital, where she is part of the US Desk. She works on stories related to American politics, crime, sports, entertainment and weather. She particularly enjoys covering political developments that have global ripples. Through her work, she aims to break down complex events in a way that feels simple and understandable. Before joining the Hindustan Times, she worked with The Indian Express Digital, where she covered world affairs. She holds a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication with a specialisation in Journalism, along with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. Outside the newsroom, Prakriti enjoys travelling and stepping out of her comfort zone. She finds her sense of being through storytelling in all its forms, including conversations, painting, theatre, dance and photography. She appreciates discussions that challenge her perspective and help her see the world a little differently.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.