15 Killed as Military Aircraft Carrying Cash Crashes in Bolivia

At least 15 people were killed and more than 30 injured after a Bolivian Air Force transport aircraft carrying newly printed banknotes for the central bank crashed in Bolivia.

The accident occurred at 6:20pm local time on Friday in El Alto, near the capital La Paz, according to the country’s air traffic control authority.

Reports by Reuters and the BBC said the Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft had taken off from Santa Cruz and was preparing to land at El Alto International Airport. Amid adverse weather conditions, the plane skidded off the runway during landing and struck several vehicles on a nearby highway.

Local television reported that the aircraft was transporting newly printed notes for Bolivia’s central bank. Following the crash, rescue operations began at the scene and El Alto International Airport was temporarily closed.

The defence ministry later confirmed that the crashed aircraft was a C-130 Hercules transport plane assigned to carry banknotes for the central bank.

Authorities said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.