- By Aditya Jha
- Sat, 28 Feb 2026 09:22 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bolivia Plane Crash: Fifteen people died and at least 30 others got injured after a military cargo aircraft crashed near El Alto airport, just outside Bolivia's capital, La Paz, on Friday evening. As per reports, the aircraft was carrying new banknotes from Bolivia's central bank and crashed onto a busy avenue due to the poor weather conditions. The local authorities stated that the aircraft had departed from Santa Cruz City and crashed after skidding off the runway onto a nearby avenue, leading to the tragic crash.
People Rush To Pick Money
While the authorities were busy rescuing the injured people, videos on the social media platforms showed people rushing to the scene, appearing to pick up the money that fell off the plane following the accident, reported Reuters. As people rushed towards the scene to pick up the scattered money, local authorities had to use water hoses and tear gas. However, the visuals circulating on the social media platforms have not been independently verified.
Seguro era un vuelo con dinero del narco
— aapayés (@aapayes) February 28, 2026
Gente recoge dinero desde el lugar del siniestro aéreo en Bolivia
El incidente dejó al menos 15 muertos, un numero aún no precisado de heridos y varios vehículos afectados. pic.twitter.com/M8SxhcoMZY
The defence ministry, in its statement, clarified that the notes had no purchasing power, adding that collecting or using them would constitute a crime. "The public is asked to stay away and allow the authorities to do their work," the defence ministry said in its statement.
The ministry confirmed that its C-130 Hercules was involved, adding that the aircraft was carrying banknotes from Bolivia's central bank. It further stated that a detailed probe has been launched into the matter for more details.
In its statement, national airline Boliviana de Aviacion stated that the El Alto International Airport was temporarily closed following the tragic crash. The airline further stated that the aircraft involved in the accident did not belong to its fleet. Video broadcast on local media showed the aircraft was severely damaged, reported Reuters.