A Bolivian military cargo plane crashed near the capital La Paz, killing at least 15 people. The aircraft, carrying new banknotes, scattered cash on a highway after the incident, with bystanders attempting to collect it. Police intervened to disperse the crowd.
On February 27, 2026, a C-130 Hercules transport plane veered off the runway at El Alto International Airport near Bolivia's capital La Paz and crashed into an avenue while attempting to land. The military cargo aircraft was carrying new banknotes to the central bank. The incident killed at least 15 people and injured several others, though it remains unclear whether the fatalities were aboard the plane or in vehicles on the nearby highway.
Colonel Pavel Tovar of the national fire department told reporters, “We are recovering the bodies of these people who have sadly suffered in the accident.” He noted that at least 15 vehicles were involved. The plane struck vehicles in El Alto, adjacent to La Paz, crushing at least one car and damaging trucks before coming to rest in a field.
Social media images showed bystanders rushing to collect the scattered bills, while police in riot gear attempted to disperse them. Firefighters extinguished flames engulfing the aircraft. Reports conflicted on whether the crash occurred during takeoff or landing, with bad weather cited as a factor in some accounts.
Authorities temporarily suspended all flights to and from the airport.
