Military Plane Carrying Banknotes Crashes Near La Paz, At Least 15 Dead
La Paz, Bolivia: At least 15 people were killed after a military cargo aircraft carrying newly printed banknotes crashed near Bolivia’s capital on Friday, damaging multiple vehicles and scattering currency across a nearby highway, officials said.
The aircraft, operated by the Bolivian Air Force, was transporting newly printed currency from the eastern city of Santa Cruz to La Paz when the accident occurred near El Alto, a major urban center adjacent to the capital.
Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas said the Hercules C-130 cargo plane had landed but veered off the runway before crashing into a nearby field and impacting vehicles on a highway. Firefighters extinguished flames that engulfed the aircraft shortly after the crash.
Fire chief Pavel Tovar confirmed at least 15 fatalities but did not clarify whether the victims were crew members, passengers, or civilians on the ground. Authorities also reported multiple injuries and significant damage to at least 15 vehicles.
Bolivian Air Force General Sergio Lora said two of the six crew members remained missing as of late Friday. Emergency responders continued search and rescue operations at the crash site.
Images circulating on social media showed wreckage scattered across the roadway, destroyed vehicles, and banknotes strewn across the ground. Some civilians were seen attempting to collect the scattered currency before police intervened to secure the area.
Central bank president David Espinoza clarified that the banknotes had no legal value, as they had not yet entered circulation and lacked official serial numbers. He did not disclose the total amount being transported.
Authorities have temporarily suspended flights at the nearby airport while investigators work to determine the cause of the crash. Officials said a full investigation is underway to assess both technical and operational factors behind the incident.
