Particle.news

Bolivia Military C-130 Overruns El Alto Runway, Slams Into Road as Death Toll Reaches 22

Investigators have retrieved the flight recorder, opening a formal inquiry that could assess icy runway conditions.

Overview

  • A Bolivian Air Force C-130 carrying newly printed banknotes arrived from Santa Cruz, overran the runway at El Alto, breached the perimeter and struck vehicles on a nearby roadway.
  • Authorities now confirm 22 fatalities, including four children, with more than 37 injured; eight crew were aboard and one crew member died.
  • Crowds tried to collect scattered banknotes, forcing police and military to disperse people with water jets and tear gas, and leading to dozens of detentions.
  • The central bank said the notes were not legal tender and ordered them destroyed on site as security forces secured the crash area.
  • The airport was closed for several hours before flights resumed, and a formal accident board is analyzing data after the black box was recovered, with causes still undetermined.