What happened
An aircraft departed from Puerto Leguízamo-Caucayá (La Tagua) Airport on a mission to transport troops to Puerto Asís. The flight was carrying 117 soldiers from three different platoons along with 11 crew members. During the initial climb phase after departing from runway 10, the aircraft experienced mechanical issues involving the engines. This led to a slight left roll before the plane lost altitude and struck the ground in a forested region situated approximately 3 km northwest of the city. Upon impact, the aircraft caught fire.
Findings
- The accident resulted in 69 fatalities, including 61 soldiers, six crew members, and two police officers.
- 57 people were successfully rescued from the wreckage.
- The crash was precipitated by engine problems encountered during the early stages of flight.