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6 March 2026
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Bolivian military aircraft carrying banknotes crashes near capital, killing 22
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On Friday, 27 February 2026, a Bolivian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules on a domestic flight from Viru Viru International Airport, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, to El Alto International Airport, La Paz, suffered a runway excursion after landing and crashed onto a busy road, impacting 15 vehicles and killing at least 22 people and injuring more than 43 others. Defence Minister Marcelo Salinas said the Hercules C-130 “landed and veered off the runway” and came to a stop in a field. Firefighters responding to the crash successfully extinguished a fire that broke out, the minister said.
After landing, the aircraft veered off the runway, destroying the west side perimeter fence of the airport terminal. It then entered Costanera Avenue, where it impacted more than 15 vehicles, including private cars, public transport vehicles and cargo trucks before coming to rest in pieces. Witnesses at El Alto Airport said that the aircraft crashed into a high-traffic area. At the time of the crash, a "heavy hailstorm" was reported.
According to the La Paz Fire Department director and police, 22 people died and at least 37 were injured. At least 21 people on the ground were killed, of which four were children. Of the eight crew members on board, one died in the crash, while six others survived with major injuries and were taken to hospital to receive intensive care. One remains missing.
“A heavy hailstorm” was falling and “there was lightning” when the plane went down, Cristina Choque, a 60-year-old vendor whose car was struck by plane wreckage” said Minister Salinas.
The aircraft involved in the accident was a 49 year old Lockheed C-130H Hercules with manufacturer serial number 4759.
Crew
The crew on board the aircraft consisted of eight people:
Alejandro Chávez Paniagua - Pilot in command
Erick Rojas Zambrana - Co-pilot
Mauricio Lazo Cordova - Flight navigator
César Castro Nacho - Sub-officer
Raúl Gutiérrez Limachi - Loadmaster
Rolando Flores Saiza - Loadmaster
José Luis Condori Tinta - Loadmaster
Jared Ramirez Espinoza - Extra Crew Member
Images and videos on social media showed banknotes scattered across the crash site and people on the ground appearing to collect these notes. The crowd of people hindered rescue efforts and was later dispersed with water hoses by authorities. Several cars were also destroyed at the crash site, including one police vehicle and three ambulances. Several buildings were vandalised. More than a dozen people were later arrested for stealing banknotes. Authorities set the money on fire at the crash site.
Originally, Minister of Defence Marcelo Salinas said that the unissued notes in the crash had no serial numbers. However, the Central Bank of Bolivia later suspended the legal tender status of 10, 20 and 50-boliviano notes of the 2018 series with serial numbers ending with B, from 28 February to 2 March 2026: the Central Bank published serial numbers of notes that were in the crash and declared the affected notes worthless. When rescue teams left the site on 1 March 2026, looters returned and began stealing burned money, airplane parts and other items from the site, some even digging in the crash site for valuables.
Investigation
On the morning of Saturday, 28 February 2026, the Aeronautical Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) held a press conference to report on the ongoing investigation into the crash. The AAIB stated that they are searching for the black box, which they hope will help determine the cause of the accident.
For the investigation, they transported the wreckage of the aircraft to a secure facility for analysis. The process was secured by personnel from the National Police and the National Army.
Colonel Ricardo Alarcón of the AAIB stated, "Unfortunately, when the accident occurred, the public reacted impulsively, significantly contaminating the investigation area. The damage is obvious; we are searching for the flight recorder, which is what you call the black box"
Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC, Associated Press
After landing, the aircraft veered off the runway, destroying the west side perimeter fence of the airport terminal. It then entered Costanera Avenue, where it impacted more than 15 vehicles, including private cars, public transport vehicles and cargo trucks before coming to rest in pieces. Witnesses at El Alto Airport said that the aircraft crashed into a high-traffic area. At the time of the crash, a "heavy hailstorm" was reported.
According to the La Paz Fire Department director and police, 22 people died and at least 37 were injured. At least 21 people on the ground were killed, of which four were children. Of the eight crew members on board, one died in the crash, while six others survived with major injuries and were taken to hospital to receive intensive care. One remains missing.
“A heavy hailstorm” was falling and “there was lightning” when the plane went down, Cristina Choque, a 60-year-old vendor whose car was struck by plane wreckage” said Minister Salinas.
The aircraft involved in the accident was a 49 year old Lockheed C-130H Hercules with manufacturer serial number 4759.
Crew
The crew on board the aircraft consisted of eight people:
Alejandro Chávez Paniagua - Pilot in command
Erick Rojas Zambrana - Co-pilot
Mauricio Lazo Cordova - Flight navigator
César Castro Nacho - Sub-officer
Raúl Gutiérrez Limachi - Loadmaster
Rolando Flores Saiza - Loadmaster
José Luis Condori Tinta - Loadmaster
Jared Ramirez Espinoza - Extra Crew Member
Images and videos on social media showed banknotes scattered across the crash site and people on the ground appearing to collect these notes. The crowd of people hindered rescue efforts and was later dispersed with water hoses by authorities. Several cars were also destroyed at the crash site, including one police vehicle and three ambulances. Several buildings were vandalised. More than a dozen people were later arrested for stealing banknotes. Authorities set the money on fire at the crash site.
Originally, Minister of Defence Marcelo Salinas said that the unissued notes in the crash had no serial numbers. However, the Central Bank of Bolivia later suspended the legal tender status of 10, 20 and 50-boliviano notes of the 2018 series with serial numbers ending with B, from 28 February to 2 March 2026: the Central Bank published serial numbers of notes that were in the crash and declared the affected notes worthless. When rescue teams left the site on 1 March 2026, looters returned and began stealing burned money, airplane parts and other items from the site, some even digging in the crash site for valuables.
Investigation
On the morning of Saturday, 28 February 2026, the Aeronautical Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) held a press conference to report on the ongoing investigation into the crash. The AAIB stated that they are searching for the black box, which they hope will help determine the cause of the accident.
For the investigation, they transported the wreckage of the aircraft to a secure facility for analysis. The process was secured by personnel from the National Police and the National Army.
Colonel Ricardo Alarcón of the AAIB stated, "Unfortunately, when the accident occurred, the public reacted impulsively, significantly contaminating the investigation area. The damage is obvious; we are searching for the flight recorder, which is what you call the black box"
Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC, Associated Press
