LA PAZ, Bolivia — A Bolivian Air Force cargo plane loaded with newly printed currency plummeted off a runway and crashed into a highway near the capital on Friday, killing at least 15 people and scattering bills across the scene in a chaotic tableau that drew crowds scrambling to grab the money. The incident, which occurred at the El Alto International Airport adjacent to La Paz, left a trail of destruction including about a dozen damaged vehicles and prompted a swift military and police response to secure the area.
Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas described the sequence of events in a statement to reporters, saying the Hercules C-130 aircraft "landed and veered off the runway" before sliding into a nearby field and igniting in flames. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, but the crash's impact extended beyond the aircraft, striking cars on the adjacent highway and causing widespread disruption. Salinas noted that the plane was en route from the eastern city of Santa Cruz, carrying banknotes destined for distribution in La Paz, though he did not disclose the exact value of the cargo.
The death toll stood at least at 15, according to El Alto fire chief Pavel Tovar, who addressed the media amid the ongoing rescue operations. Tovar did not specify whether the fatalities were among the plane's crew or the motorists on the highway, but he emphasized the severity of the scene, where debris, destroyed vehicles, and scattered bodies were visible. "At least 15 people died," Tovar said, adding that the exact number could rise as search efforts continued into the evening.
Bolivian Air Force General Sergio Lora provided further details on the flight's status, revealing that the plane had six crew members aboard. As of late Friday, two of them remained unaccounted for, Lora said, while the others were either confirmed deceased or under medical care. The general confirmed the aircraft's origin in Santa Cruz, Bolivia's largest city, and stressed that an investigation into the cause of the crash was underway, with preliminary indications pointing to a landing mishap rather than mechanical failure or weather issues.
Images and videos circulating on social media captured the harrowing aftermath: twisted metal from the fuselage strewn across the highway, a destroyed car crumpled under the plane's wing, and military police in riot gear forming a perimeter around the site. One widely shared photo showed a police officer standing beside the charred remains of the C-130, while another depicted people walking through the debris field on the highway. According to Tovar, at least 15 vehicles were damaged in the impact, some of them completely wrecked as the plane careened off the runway and onto the road.
The cargo's nature added a bizarre twist to the tragedy. The plane was transporting freshly printed Bolivian bolivianos, produced abroad and shipped to Santa Cruz before the ill-fated flight to La Paz. As bills fluttered to the ground amid the wreckage, hundreds of onlookers rushed the site, attempting to collect the scattered currency. Tovar reported that this mob scene significantly impeded rescue and recovery efforts, with people prioritizing the money over aiding the injured.
To regain control, authorities deployed more than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers to the area, according to official reports. Riot-geared officers dispersed the crowds, some of whom had to be physically removed from the crash zone. In a dramatic measure to prevent looting or circulation of the compromised notes, police and military personnel publicly burned the cash boxes in the presence of Central Bank President David Espinoza.
Espinoza, speaking at the scene, explained the decision: "
They have no legal value because they never entered circulation,"he said, though he declined to elaborate on the implications or the total amount involved. The banknotes, Espinoza confirmed, had been imported from overseas, a common practice for Bolivia's central bank to meet printing demands amid economic pressures. He did not provide figures on the cargo's worth, citing the ongoing investigation.
The crash occurred at approximately 2 p.m. local time on February 27, 2026, during routine operations at El Alto Airport, one of South America's highest-elevation facilities at over 13,000 feet above sea level. This altitude has long posed challenges for aviation in the region, with thin air affecting aircraft performance during takeoff and landing. While officials have not linked the elevation directly to Friday's incident, past accidents at El Alto have raised questions about infrastructure and pilot training in such conditions.
El Alto, a bustling city of more than one million residents perched on the Andean plateau, serves as a gateway to La Paz, Bolivia's administrative capital nestled in a valley below. The airport's proximity to urban highways amplifies the risks of runway excursions, as evidenced by this event. Local residents described hearing a loud explosion followed by sirens, with one eyewitness, Maria Lopez, telling reporters she saw the plane skid off the tarmac and collide with traffic. "It was like something out of a movie—money flying everywhere and people running toward it instead of away," Lopez said.
Bolivia's air force has faced scrutiny in recent years over the maintenance of its aging fleet, including several C-130 Hercules models acquired decades ago. The aircraft involved in Friday's crash was part of this inventory, though its service history was not immediately detailed by officials. In 2023, a similar C-130 incident in the Amazon region prompted calls for fleet modernization, but budget constraints have slowed progress. Aviation experts, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that while the Hercules is a reliable workhorse, operational errors at high-altitude airports remain a persistent concern.
The economic context of the cargo underscores Bolivia's ongoing financial challenges. The country has grappled with currency shortages and inflation, leading to increased imports of printed money from foreign mints. Espinoza's office has previously reported that such shipments are securely escorted, but the crash exposed vulnerabilities in the transport process. Analysts suggest the incident could delay currency distribution, potentially exacerbating shortages in La Paz and other regions.
In the immediate aftermath, authorities suspended all flights to and from El Alto Airport, stranding thousands of passengers and disrupting cargo operations across Bolivia. The terminal, a vital hub for international travel to and from South America, was expected to resume limited services by Saturday morning, pending clearance from investigators. International aviation bodies, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, have offered assistance in probing the crash, according to preliminary statements from Bolivian transport officials.
As night fell on the crash site, recovery teams continued sifting through the wreckage under floodlights, with forensic experts on hand to identify remains and catalog the cargo. Families of the crew members gathered at air force bases in Santa Cruz and La Paz, awaiting updates. President Luis Arce issued a statement expressing condolences and pledging a thorough inquiry, vowing that "no stone will be left unturned" in determining the cause.
The tragedy in El Alto serves as a stark reminder of the perils of aviation in Bolivia's rugged terrain, where high stakes—both literal and figurative—intersect with everyday risks. With investigations just beginning, questions linger about safety protocols, the fate of the missing crew, and the broader ramifications for the nation's economy and air force. For now, the scorched field near the runway stands as a somber testament to a day that began routinely but ended in loss and disarray.