militair vliegtuig crasht in boliviaanse stad met vracht nieuwe bankbiljetten
El Alto, zaterdag, 28 februari 2026.
Een Boliviaans legertransportvliegtuig is neergestort in El Alto, vlak bij La Paz. Het toestel, een Hercules C-130, vervoerde honderden kilo ongebruikte bankbiljetten voor de centrale bank. Bij de crash vielen minstens 15 doden en ruim 30 gewonden. Het wrak belandde op een drukke straat, waarbij brokstukken auto’s troffen. Getuigen spreken van hevige hagelbuien en bliksem bij het ongeluk. Politie moest ingrijpen toen nieuwsgierigen probeerden weg te lopen met verstrooid contant geld. Er werden arrestaties verricht, traangas werd gebruikt. Journalisten werden aangevallen terwijl ze verslag deden. De regering waarschuwt: het geld is nog geen wettig betaalmiddel. De luchthaven bleef tijdelijk gesloten. Een officiële klopjacht naar de oorzaak loopt.
crash in el alto claims lives and spreads new currency notes
In El Alto, Bolivia, a military Hercules C-130 transport plane crashed on Friday evening, killing at least 15 people and injuring over 30 others [1]. The aircraft, operated by the Bolivian Air Force, was carrying unused banknotes destined for the country’s central bank [1]. It went down around 18:15 local time on a busy street near El Alto International Airport, shortly after arriving from Santa Cruz [1]. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as debris struck vehicles and emergency services scrambled to respond [1].
severe weather and immediate chaos at crash site
Eyewitnesses reported severe weather conditions during the crash, including intense hailstorms and visible lightning strikes moments before impact [1]. One woman stated, ‘A heavy hailstorm was falling and there was lightning when the plane went down’ [1]. Another survivor recounted how his sister suffered head injuries after being struck by a detached airplane tire while inside a vehicle [1]. Emergency medical teams quickly mobilized across several hospitals in El Alto and La Paz to treat the wounded [4]. Authorities confirmed 28 individuals hospitalized, though total injury counts vary slightly among official statements [4].
crowd unrest and security intervention unfolds
Following the crash, civilians attempted to collect scattered bundles of uncirculated banknotes from the wreckage [1]. Police responded with tear gas to disperse the growing crowd and prevent looting [1]. Several arrests were made amid rising tensions at the scene [1]. Officials stressed these notes lack legal tender status due to missing serial numbers and formal issuance procedures [1]. Bolivia’s Minister of Defense, Marcelo Salinas, warned that possession or use of such currency constitutes a criminal offense [1]. Security forces maintained control while investigations began onsite [1].
journalists face hostility amid unfolding crisis
Media personnel covering the aftermath encountered unexpected resistance from some individuals at the crash location [1]. According to the National Association of Journalists of Bolivia, reporters came under attack while documenting events [1]. Their mobile broadcast unit was specifically targeted, disrupting live coverage efforts [1]. The association condemned the aggression, emphasizing the importance of press freedom during national emergencies [1]. Despite these challenges, visual evidence captured includes damaged vehicles and bystanders reacting to tear gas dispersal [1]. Investigations continue without a publicly announced timetable [1].
official responses and ongoing inquiries
The Bolivian Air Force confirmed eight crew members were aboard the ill-fated Hercules C-130, including both flight and cargo personnel [1]. Commander Sergio Lora verified the mission involved transporting new currency units [1]. Health Minister Marcela Flores detailed coordinated medical protocols activated immediately after the disaster [4]. She affirmed patient distributions across healthcare facilities and reinforced institutional readiness [4]. Meanwhile, El Alto International Airport remained temporarily closed, affecting regional air traffic until further notice [1]. An official inquiry into technical and environmental causes remains underway [1].