Bolivia cargo plane crash kills 15, scatters banknotes on highway

A Bolivian Air Force Hercules cargo aircraft carrying newly printed banknotes veered off the runway at El Alto International Airport on Friday evening and crashed onto a busy highway in the city of El Alto, adjacent to La Paz, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens, officials said. Flames engulfed parts of the aircraft and several vehicles were destroyed as the C-130 transport plane barreled down Costanera Avenue before coming to rest in a field. Debris and banknotes were strewn across the roadway, prompting chaotic scenes as onlookers gathered amid piles of cash.

Fire Chief Pavel Tovar, speaking at the scene, said he could not immediately determine whether those who died were onboard the aircraft or in vehicles struck by it, and at least 30 people were taken to nearby hospitals with serious injuries. Authorities closed the airport and suspended operations while emergency services battled to extinguish fires and secure the area.

The aircraft had departed from Santa Cruz earlier in the day with a load of freshly printed currency from Bolivia’s central bank destined for distribution to other cities. Local television footage showed the twin-engine Hercules skidding off the runway during landing, with poor weather and gusty winds at the time potentially complicating the approach, though investigators have yet to confirm a cause.

Bolivia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the crash but provided few details about the flight’s final moments, as national police moved to disperse crowds drawn by the scattered banknotes. Officers used water hoses and tear gas to push back people who were attempting to pick up bills from the site, complicating rescue efforts. Police and military personnel established a perimeter to prevent further chaos as ambulances ferried the wounded away.

Eyewitnesses described a surreal scene in the aftermath of the crash, with currency fluttering in the wind and vehicles mangled beneath the aircraft’s fuselage. “It was like a storm of money,” one resident said, describing how people ran across the highway to gather what they could, while others screamed for help amid twisted metal and smoke. Emergency crews worked to recover bodies from the wreckage and clear the road to restore some order.

Gen. Sergio Lora of the Bolivian Air Force told reporters that two of the six crew members were unaccounted for late on Friday, underscoring the challenges faced by search teams sifting through the debris. Rescue workers focused first on stabilising survivors and clearing the highway to allow access for heavy equipment, as questions mounted about how the military transport went off course during what was expected to be a routine delivery flight.

The crash marked one of the country’s deadliest aviation accidents in decades, drawing comparisons with past air disasters that have shaken Bolivia’s aviation community. El Alto sits at a high altitude that can make aircraft performance more challenging, with thin air and rapidly shifting mountain weather patterns adding complexity to flight operations.

Authorities said discussions later on Friday were expected to involve officials from the central bank, civil aviation regulators, and the Defence Ministry to coordinate the investigation and determine the sequence of events leading to the crash. Local hospitals reported an influx of injured residents, many suffering from burns, broken bones and lacerations as emergency responders worked through the night.