At least 15 people were killed and more than 30 injured on Friday evening after a Bolivian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft skidded off the runway at El Alto International Airport near La Paz and crashed onto a busy road in El Alto.
Accident Details
According to local and international media reports, the aircraft had departed from Santa Cruz and overshot the runway while landing at El Alto airport. Authorities said heavy rain and snow had made the runway extremely slippery, causing the aircraft to lose control. The plane left the runway and fell onto a road, colliding with vehicles and damaging around a dozen cars. Heavy traffic was reported on the road at the time of the crash, and several people died at the scene. The injured were admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Newly Printed Banknotes on Board
The aircraft was carrying newly printed banknotes for the country’s central bank. When the plane crashed onto the road, the banknotes in denominations of 20, 50 and 100 bolivianos were scattered at the scene. Videos and images circulating on social media showed people attempting to collect the notes. The president of Bolivia’s central bank stated that the notes had been sent for replacement purposes and could not be used as legal currency. He said they would not be accepted in any transaction and that security protocols had been activated.
Police Response and Official Statements
Local police and security forces used water cannons and tear gas to control the crowd. Authorities urged citizens to remain patient and avoid picking up any scattered notes.
Bolivia’s Defence Ministry and the Air Force confirmed the aircraft belonged to the military. El Alto airport was temporarily closed following the incident. The country’s national airline, Boliviana de Aviación, clarified that the aircraft was not part of its fleet. Preliminary investigations indicated that adverse weather conditions and the icy runway were the main causes of the crash. The dead included members of the aircraft’s crew and civilians on the ground. Injured persons were hospitalised after receiving initial treatment and were reported to be in stable condition.
