EL ALTO, Bolivia — A Bolivian Air Force cargo plane transporting unissued banknotes crashed at El Alto International Airport on Friday evening, killing at least 20 people, injuring 31 others, and sparking violent disorder as bystanders rushed to seize currency scattered across the crash site.
The C-130 Hercules aircraft departed Santa Cruz bound for El Alto, a western Bolivian city situated at high altitude near La Paz. At 18:15 local time (22:15 GMT), the plane skidded off the runway on landing, ploughing into vehicles parked in the vicinity. Witnesses described a severe hailstorm and lightning strikes at the moment of impact, conditions that investigators will likely scrutinise as the inquiry into the cause of the crash gets under way.
Firefighters arriving at the scene initially reported at least 15 fatalities. That toll subsequently rose to a minimum of 20 dead. Bolivia’s Health Ministry confirmed 31 people were injured and issued an urgent public appeal for blood donations as hospitals in the area faced pressure on medical resources. Video footage circulating after the incident showed the aircraft severely damaged and partially destroyed on the tarmac.
Air Force Commander Sergio Lora confirmed that eight people were aboard the plane, comprising flight crew and cargo personnel. The aircraft was carrying banknotes destined for the Central Bank of Bolivia, though the currency had not yet been formally issued and bore no serial numbers.
The crash immediately triggered chaotic scenes beyond the runway perimeter. Crowds converged on the site in an attempt to collect the scattered notes, forcing police to deploy tear gas to push back the surging throngs. More than a dozen individuals were arrested on suspicion of theft. Defence Minister Marcelo Salinas issued a stark warning, stating that any attempt to use the unissued banknotes constitutes a criminal offence. Because the notes lacked serial numbers and had not entered official circulation, they hold no legal tender status.
The disorder extended to attacks on members of the press attempting to document the aftermath. Multiple journalists sustained serious injuries after being struck by stones thrown by individuals seeking to steal the money. A mobile television broadcast unit was directly targeted during the assaults. The National Association of Journalists of Bolivia issued a formal statement condemning the violence against reporters covering the incident.
Among the injuries reported in the immediate chaos, a detached aircraft tyre struck a car near the crash site, injuring a woman in the head. El Alto International Airport was temporarily closed in the hours following the crash as emergency services worked to secure the area and investigators began examining the wreckage.
El Alto sits at an elevation of roughly 4,150 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest commercial airports in the world. Operations at altitude present distinct aeronautical challenges, and the reported weather conditions at the time of the crash — heavy hail and lightning — add further complexity to what authorities have described as an ongoing investigation.
The C-130 Hercules is a widely used military transport aircraft with a long operational history across South American air forces. Bolivia’s air force has operated the type for decades, primarily for logistical and cargo missions across the country’s varied and often difficult terrain.
Bolivian authorities have not yet indicated a preliminary cause for the runway excursion, and no official timeline for the investigation’s conclusion has been announced.
