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Bolivian Military Plane Crash in El Alto Kills at Least Twenty
(MENAFN) At least 20 people have died and several others were injured after a Bolivian Air Force cargo plane crashed in El Alto, as stated by reports.
The incident occurred at 18:15 local time (22:15 GMT) on Friday while the plane was arriving at El Alto’s airport from Santa Cruz. Aviation officials said the aircraft reportedly skidded off the runway and collided with nearby vehicles.
The Defence Ministry later confirmed that a C-130 Hercules was involved, transporting banknotes for the Central Bank of Bolivia. The air force commander said eight people were on board.
Police reportedly used tear gas to disperse crowds attempting to seize the scattered banknotes. Firefighters had earlier reported at least 15 deaths.
Video footage showed the plane on the ground and vehicles heavily damaged, while other clips captured people fleeing from tear gas and lines of police officers holding shields. Some individuals in the crowds were seen throwing rocks.
"While news crews were covering the accident, individuals attempting to steal the transported money attacked the press with unusual violence," the National Association of Journalists of Bolivia said in a statement.
The group added that a mobile TV unit was "directly targeted," while other journalists "were attacked with stones, suffering serious injuries while carrying out their work."
According to reports, at least a dozen people were arrested for attempting to steal the banknotes.
"I want to make it clear to those who are trying to take money from the plane involved in this tragedy that this money has no legal value since it has not been issued by the Central Bank and does not have a serial number, and that attempting to use this money is a crime," Defence Minister Marcelo Salinas said.
"We also ask all those who are engaging in acts of vandalism in this area to refrain from doing so and to respect the mourning and grief we are experiencing at this difficult time."
The incident occurred at 18:15 local time (22:15 GMT) on Friday while the plane was arriving at El Alto’s airport from Santa Cruz. Aviation officials said the aircraft reportedly skidded off the runway and collided with nearby vehicles.
The Defence Ministry later confirmed that a C-130 Hercules was involved, transporting banknotes for the Central Bank of Bolivia. The air force commander said eight people were on board.
Police reportedly used tear gas to disperse crowds attempting to seize the scattered banknotes. Firefighters had earlier reported at least 15 deaths.
Video footage showed the plane on the ground and vehicles heavily damaged, while other clips captured people fleeing from tear gas and lines of police officers holding shields. Some individuals in the crowds were seen throwing rocks.
"While news crews were covering the accident, individuals attempting to steal the transported money attacked the press with unusual violence," the National Association of Journalists of Bolivia said in a statement.
The group added that a mobile TV unit was "directly targeted," while other journalists "were attacked with stones, suffering serious injuries while carrying out their work."
According to reports, at least a dozen people were arrested for attempting to steal the banknotes.
"I want to make it clear to those who are trying to take money from the plane involved in this tragedy that this money has no legal value since it has not been issued by the Central Bank and does not have a serial number, and that attempting to use this money is a crime," Defence Minister Marcelo Salinas said.
"We also ask all those who are engaging in acts of vandalism in this area to refrain from doing so and to respect the mourning and grief we are experiencing at this difficult time."
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