At least 15 people were killed and a dozen vehicles damaged in the incident in Bolivia
A military cargo plane carrying large amounts of newly printed currency crashed into a busy highway near Bolivia’s administrative capital late Friday, killing at least 15 people and causing chaos as notes were scattered around the wreckage.
A Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft operated by the Bolivian Air Force lost control and skidded off the runway while attempting to land in the city of El Alto, near La Paz, amid poor weather. El Debor newspaper reported that the plane was transporting currency from the country’s central bank to regional cities.
After leaving the airport, the plane hit several vehicles before its wreckage came to rest in a nearby field, fire chief Pavel Tovar told reporters. At least a dozen vehicles were reportedly damaged, with charred remains and bodies strewn along the road.
Emergency responders extinguished the flames engulfing the plane as rescuers searched the damaged cars for survivors. Authorities are yet to clarify whether the deceased were passengers on the plane or the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident.
Videos circulating online show crowds rushing toward the wreckage and seemingly scrambling for bills strewn across the highway after the impact.
Un Avion de la Fuerza Area d #Bolivia It crashed in the city of El Alto, impacting several vehicles and causing injuries, informaron medios locales. pic.twitter.com/AYe7srMnIu
– David de la Paz 戴维 (@daviddelapaz) February 28, 2026
Police and emergency personnel reportedly used water cannons and riot-control measures to disperse people trying to approach the crash zone as investigators secured the area.
Other images broadcast by television stations showed extensive structural damage to the airframe and crushed civilian vehicles lining the avenue.
Operations at El Alto International Airport have been temporarily suspended following the incident. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, focusing on weather conditions and possible mechanical failure just days after take-off.
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