A devastating crash claimed at least 15 lives and left 30 others injured on Friday evening after a Bolivian Air Force Hercules aircraft plummeted onto a congested road in El Alto.
The military transport plane, which was laden with newly printed banknotes destined for the country’s central bank, came down shortly after departing from El Alto International Airport. It struck several vehicles in a densely populated neighbourhood, leaving a trail of wreckage across the thoroughfare. According to reports, emergency teams arrived to find a scene of total carnage, with multiple cars crushed or incinerated on impact.
Local authorities have confirmed that the dead include both those on board the aircraft and civilians caught in the path of the disaster. The 30 injured survivors were rushed to local medical facilities, where staff are reportedly struggling to stabilise several patients in critical condition.
Although an investigation into the reason behind the incident is still in its early stages, it is apparent that bad weather may have been a major contributing factor to the tragedy.
The situation was made worse by the fact that the cargo was of great value. There were images circulating on social media showing a chaotic situation. There were pieces of luggage and money scattered around the airport, with some people trying to pick them up.
Police and fire crews were forced to use water hoses to keep crowds back from the wreckage as they prioritised search and rescue efforts.
The disaster forced the immediate closure of El Alto International Airport, a vital hub for the region. In a bid to clarify initial confusion, the national carrier, Boliviana de Aviación, issued a statement confirming the Hercules was not part of its commercial fleet.
El Alto sits at a staggering altitude of over 4,000 metres. Its thin air and proximity to the capital, La Paz, make it one of the most challenging urban environments for aviation in the world.
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