2026 Bolivian Air Force Lockheed C-130 crash

On 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, killing 24 people, and injuring 43 others.

The aircraft was carrying a large shipment of newly printed banknotes on behalf of the Central Bank of Bolivia, intended to be distributed within the national monetary system. The impact scattered large quantities of banknotes across the crash site, drawing the attention of bystanders who attempted to collect the currency. Law enforcement authorities subsequently secured the area and later destroyed the banknotes to prevent their circulation.

Accident

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 hit more than a dozen vehicles, including private cars, public transport vehicles, and cargo trucks before breaking into pieces and coming to rest. 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, a total of 24 people died and 37 were injured. 23 of the fatalities were people on the ground, of whom 4 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. At the time, one crew member was considered missing.