Bolivia military plane carrying central bank cash crashes; crowd tries to grab banknotes

Witness accounts described the plane hitting numerous vehicles before coming to a stop.

A Bolivian military Hercules C-130 transport aircraft suffered an accident on Friday afternoon in El Alto, the city adjacent to La Paz, leaving at least 15 people dead, according to a preliminary toll attributed to firefighters. The aircraft overran the runway and slid onto a main avenue, striking vehicles and triggering chaotic scenes as residents attempted to collect bundles of cash scattered across the crash area.

National fire commander Pavel Tovar said the incident caused 15 deaths among people on the ground after the aircraft dragged several vehicles along a stretch of more than a kilometer. El Alto’s Hospital del Norte reported 10 injured patients, eight of them in critical condition, according to local reports.

Videos circulating on social media show the aircraft missing one wing, with debris across the roadway and multiple cars and public-transport vehicles heavily damaged. Witness accounts described the plane hitting numerous vehicles before coming to a stop.

BREAKING: A Bolivian Air Force Hercules aircraft crashed on an avenue in the city of El Alto, located near Bolivia’s capital, La Paz. pic.twitter.com/vu404TATwP

— World Source News (@Worldsource24) February 27, 2026

Aviation authorities said the accident occurred around 6:00 p.m. local time near El Alto International Airport. The head of Bolivia’s civil aviation authority (DGAC), José Antonio Fanola, said the aircraft left the runway after landing. “It didn’t fall,” he said in comments aired by broadcaster Unitel, describing the event as a runway excursion amid adverse weather conditions.

A major flashpoint was the presence of cash spread across the scene. Local media reported the plane was carrying remittances intended for Bolivia’s central bank. Dozens of residents breached the security perimeter to pick up banknotes, despite the risk of fire or explosion after the impact. Police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd, but groups later returned, complicating emergency work and perimeter control.

Bolivia’s Defense Ministry confirmed to AFP that the accident had taken place, while verification of casualties and causes was still under way. The official investigation was launched by aviation and security authorities, who are expected to determine whether weather, technical failure, or a combination of factors led to the runway overrun.

As an immediate measure, flights to and from La Paz were suspended, airport authorities said, as responders worked to secure the area and assess damage around the terminal.