Bolivia witnessed an extraordinary incident that caused widespread concern when a military plane, on a mission to transport a shipment of banknotes, crashed near El Alto International Airport, adjacent to the administrative capital, La Paz. The crash caused widespread chaos in the area surrounding the crash site, prompting an immediate and decisive security response.
Details of the military plane crash
According to reports, the incident occurred on Friday afternoon when a plane carrying large quantities of Bolivian currency crashed. As soon as news of the crash spread and some of the plane's contents began to scatter, large crowds of local residents gathered, attempting to reach the wreckage and salvage what they could of the scattered money, in a scene of chaos and confusion.
Faced with this large human gathering that hampered rescue operations and securing the site, Bolivian police forces were forced to use tear gas to disperse the crowds and keep citizens away from the plane wreckage, in order to ensure everyone’s safety and protect the physical evidence at the accident site.
Geographical context and aviation challenges in Bolivia
El Alto International Airport, near which the accident occurred, is one of the highest international airports in the world, situated at an altitude of over 4,000 meters above sea level. This rugged geography and the terrain of the Andes Mountains pose significant challenges to air traffic, particularly for military and cargo aircraft operating in volatile weather conditions and low air density, making takeoffs and landings extremely precise.
Official position and ongoing investigations
For its part, the Bolivian Ministry of Defense confirmed the incident in a statement to Agence France-Presse, noting that emergency teams and firefighting units rushed to the scene to control the situation. Despite confirming the crash, the ministry did not immediately issue a definitive statement regarding fatalities or the exact number of injuries among the crew, preferring to wait until the initial investigations were completed.
Local television station Unitel broadcast footage showing clouds of tear gas being deployed by police amidst crowds of citizens, while security forces cordoned off the area to allow investigators to begin their work to determine the technical causes of the plane crash. This incident is particularly significant given the nature of the cargo being transported (cash), raising questions about protocols for transporting valuable assets by air and the security procedures followed in such emergencies.
