A Bolivian Air Force transport plane went down near La Paz on Friday evening, February 27, 2026, killing at least 24 people and scattering freshly printed banknotes across a highway, according to AFP and Al Jazeera.
The Hercules C-130 slid off the runway at El Alto International Airport at about 6:15 p.m. local time after arriving from Santa Cruz. The aircraft crossed onto Costanera Avenue, hit vehicles and burst into flames before stopping in a nearby field.
Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas said the plane was carrying newly printed Bolivian currency when it “landed and veered off the runway” and ended up in the field. Fire crews put out the fire consuming the wreckage, but the crash left widespread destruction.
At least 15 vehicles were destroyed, and debris, bodies and banknotes littered the road. The death toll, first reported as 15 on Friday, rose to 22 by Saturday and reached 24 by March 3. The victims included men (one of them a crew member), six women and four children. Around 40 people were injured, mostly passengers on public buses struck by the aircraft.
The aircraft carried eight crew members, including flight and cargo staff. Forensic teams worked into Saturday to recover remains from the wreck, and injured people were treated at clinics across El Alto.
The crash sparked chaos as hundreds rushed to pick up scattered banknotes. Police in riot gear used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, while more than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers worked to secure the site.
Authorities initially detained at least a dozen people for trying to take the money, and the number arrested rose to nearly 50 in the following days on charges including aggravated robbery. Video showed people throwing stones at officials and attacking journalists on the scene. The National Association of Journalists of Bolivia said several reporters were hurt, and a mobile TV unit was directly targeted.
To stop further looting, police and military personnel burned cash boxes at the site in the presence of Central Bank President David Espinoza, who warned the public that the banknotes “have no legal value because they never entered circulation.”
The central bank confirmed the aircraft was carrying 18 tons of new banknotes that had arrived in Santa Cruz from abroad. Defense Minister Salinas stressed that attempting to use the money is a crime.
El Alto International Airport was briefly closed after the crash and flights were suspended. The airport serves El Alto and nearby La Paz and handles flights for Boliviana de Aviación, the national carrier.
Witnesses reported severe weather at the time, including heavy hail and lightning. Bolivian aviation authorities are investigating the cause. Defense officials said the black box will be sent overseas for analysis because Bolivia lacks certified facilities to extract its data, and that the process could take several weeks.
The health ministry issued an urgent appeal for blood donations as hospitals cared for dozens of injured. The ministry coordinated with medical centers across El Alto to ensure emergency treatment for those in need.
Photos from the scene showed the aircraft badly damaged with wreckage along the avenue. The C-130 Hercules, a military transport used worldwide for cargo, including sensitive items like currency, served in the Bolivian Air Force. The plane was a 49-year-old Lockheed C-130H Hercules, tail number FAB-81.
Bolivian Air Force General Sergio Lora said the plane left Santa Cruz and was heading to La Paz when it crashed. Investigators from the defense ministry and aviation authorities continue to inspect the wreckage and interview witnesses to determine what caused the accident.
President Rodrigo Paz sent condolences to the victims’ families and declared three days of national mourning, ordering flags at half-mast. The disaster has renewed calls for better safety measures at El Alto International Airport, which sits at over 13,300 feet elevation, making it the highest international airport in the world. The altitude and frequent severe weather present difficult conditions for aircraft operations.