Military Plane Carrying Banknotes Crashes In Bolivia; 15 Dead

EL ALTO — The disaster occurred around 6:00 PM local time during a period of inclement weather. The heavy military transport plane had departed from Santa Cruz and was attempting to land at (or take off from, according to some reports) El Alto International Airport, which serves the administrative capital, La Paz.

1. The Crash Site: A Highway Massacre

The aircraft overshot the runway, crashing through the airport’s perimeter fencing and skidding onto a major neighboring avenue.

• Vehicle Impact: The plane’s massive fuselage reportedly struck more than 15 vehicles on the busy road.
• The Toll: Fire Chief Pavel Tovar confirmed at least 15 fatalities, though it remains unclear how many were onboard the aircraft versus civilians in the crushed cars. Over 30 people are being treated for various injuries, with some in critical condition.

2. The “Money Trail”

The crash took a surreal turn when the plane’s cargo—freshly minted banknotes destined for internal distribution—burst open.

• Scattered Cash: Video footage from the scene showed a “trail of bills” littering the highway.
• Crowd Control: Reports emerged of bystanders attempting to collect the scattered banknotes. Police in riot gear and firefighters were seen using water hoses and tear gas to disperse onlookers and secure the central bank’s assets.

3. Immediate Aftermath

• Airport Closure: El Alto International Airport was temporarily shut down to all traffic, causing widespread disruptions across Bolivia’s aviation network.
• The “BoA” Statement: The national carrier, Boliviana de Aviación (BoA), clarified that the Hercules was a military asset and did not belong to the commercial fleet, despite the shared use of the airport.

Incident Summary: Bolivian Air Force Crash