A Bolivian Air Force Hercules transport plane went down Friday evening on a crowded street in El Alto, near La Paz, during severe weather conditions. The aircraft was reportedly carrying new currency to distribute throughout the country when it crashed, leading to chaotic scenes of people gathering money from the crash site.
EL ALTO, Bolivia – A military transport aircraft belonging to Bolivia’s Air Force went down Friday evening on a crowded street in El Alto, located adjacent to the nation’s capital of La Paz, as reported by local television outlets.
The Hercules transport plane was carrying freshly printed currency destined for distribution throughout Bolivia’s interior regions, according to local news outlet Unitel, which referenced information from Bolivia’s Defense Ministry.
Video clips circulating on social platforms revealed pandemonium at the crash location, with crowds of people rushing to collect scattered banknotes from the pavement after the incident. Emergency responders at the site used water cannons to disperse the gathering crowds. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of these images.
Officials have yet to release information regarding casualties or deaths from the incident. Bolivia’s central banking authority was scheduled to hold a press briefing later Friday evening.
Following the crash, El Alto International Airport suspended operations temporarily, according to a statement from Bolivia’s national carrier, Boliviana de Aviacion. The airline clarified that the crashed aircraft was not part of their fleet.
Television footage from local news sources revealed extensive damage to the military aircraft, along with significant destruction to multiple cars parked along the street where the plane came down.