Colombian Leader Blasts US-Donated Military Aircraft After Fatal Crash

Colombia's president criticized the military's reliance on secondhand aircraft from the United States following a deadly crash that killed at least 66 soldiers. The accident has sparked debate about military equipment modernization and defense spending priorities.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Following a devastating military aircraft accident that claimed the lives of dozens of soldiers, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has sharply criticized his nation’s dependence on donated secondhand military equipment from the United States.

The tragedy unfolded Monday when a military transport aircraft went down moments after departure from Colombia’s Putumayo province. Defense officials confirmed that no fewer than 66 service members perished in the crash, while 57 others survived and were transported to Bogota and other locations for medical care.

Petro took to social media platform X to express his frustration with the donated Hercules CJ-130 aircraft involved in the accident. “An army cannot defend its own people with crappy gifts,” the president stated. “They give away whatever is useless to them — and the ‘gift’ ends up costing more than buying it new.”

The United States provided the Hercules CJ-130 to Colombia in 2020 through a cooperative arrangement that included two additional used Hercules aircraft. The plane had undergone comprehensive maintenance work in 2023, including engine inspections and replacement of critical components.

Aviation specialist and military analyst Erich Saumeth emphasized that investigators must now focus on determining what caused the four-engine aircraft to fail so quickly after departure. “I don’t think this plane crashed because of a lack of good parts,” Saumeth noted.

The crash occurred near Puerto Leguizamo, where the airport features a notably short 1.2-kilometer runway. The aircraft came down in a field within two kilometers of the airfield.

Former President Iván Duque, who held office when the aircraft was donated, responded to Petro’s comments on social media, advising him to “calm down and breathe.” Duque suggested investigators examine “how much weight the plane was carrying compared to the length of the runway.”

The current president has used this incident to advance his ongoing efforts to upgrade military equipment, claiming that modernization initiatives have faced “bureaucratic difficulties.” Petro indicated that accountability measures may be necessary, stating Monday: “If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to the challenge, they must be removed.”

Political opponents have countered by highlighting reduced military contract implementation and decreased flight hours for military aircraft under Petro’s leadership, attributing these issues to defense budget reductions.