Plane carrying money crashes in Bolivia, killing 15 and sparking rush to pick bills
A Hercules C-130 transporting freshly printed Bolivian money veered off a runway, sparking a chaotic scramble for cash.
A military cargo plane carrying a shipment of newly printed Bolivian currency crashed on Friday, resulting in a deadly disaster and chaotic scenes near the capital. The Bolivian Air Force Hercules C-130, arriving from Santa Cruz, veered off the runway at El Alto airport near La Paz, crashed into a field, and damaged approximately 15 vehicles on a nearby highway. The crash killed at least 15 people and scattered the plane's cargo of banknotes across the crash site, leading to a rush by hundreds of locals to collect the money before authorities could secure the area.
Defence Minister Marcelo Salinas confirmed the aircraft was transporting the national currency, though the specific value was not disclosed. The incident sparked a significant emergency response, with firefighters extinguishing the burning wreckage. Rescue efforts were complicated by crowds gathering to pick up the spilled bills, requiring intervention from soldiers and police. The cause of the crash remains under official investigation, with two of the six crew members still unaccounted for as of late Friday.
- A Hercules C-130 military cargo plane crashed near El Alto airport, killing at least 15 people.
- The aircraft was transporting a shipment of newly printed Bolivian currency, scattering bills and causing a public scramble.
- The crash damaged about 15 vehicles on a highway and required military and police to control crowds hindering rescue.
Why It Matters
The crash highlights major risks in transporting national currency and the severe logistical and security challenges such disasters create.