Dozens Dead After Cargo Plane Carrying Cash Crashes in Bolivia
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- Dozens killed and injured as cargo plane crashes in La Paz
- Cash scattered on ground, authorities burn bills later
At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured after a cargo plane carrying banknotes crashed while landing near Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, damaging around a dozen vehicles on a highway and scattering money on the ground, according to local officials.
Footage from local media showed people rushing to collect the banknotes while riot police tried to disperse the crowd using tear gas. Authorities were later seen burning the cash at the crash site.
The Ministry of Defense said the money on board the crashed plane “has no official serial numbers, so it has no legal or purchasing value,” adding that “collecting, possessing, or using it is a crime.”
Videos showed the C-130 aircraft skidding off the runway during its landing at El Alto International Airport, veering onto a street before coming to rest in a field. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but witnesses reported severe weather conditions at the time.
Cristina Choque, a 60-year-old vendor whose car was hit by debris, described heavy lightning and hail as the plane landed: “The tire fell on us… my daughter was injured in the head.” She and her family stayed inside the wrecked car to avoid the chaotic crowd at the scene.
The Defense Ministry confirmed it will launch a full investigation into the crash.
Col. Rene Tambo, head of El Alto’s homicide division, said, “There are about 20 dead, maybe a few more,” while Col. Pavel Tovar of the Civil Defense initially reported 15–16 fatalities. Teams are recovering bodies from the site.
Bolivia’s Health Ministry reported at least 28 people injured.
The plane, owned by the Bolivian Air Force, was transporting new banknotes from the central bank to other cities, many of which were scattered at the crash site.
The Bolivian Air Navigation and Airports Authority (NAABOL) said the C-130 departed from Santa Cruz in the east and crashed during landing at La Paz International Airport, which temporarily suspended operations.