Bolivian Military Cargo Plane Carrying Cash Crashes Near La Paz, Killing at Least 15

A Bolivian military cargo plane transporting newly printed banknotes crashed Friday near the capital, La Paz, killing at least 15 people and injuring several others, officials said. The aircraft went down in El Alto, a city adjacent to La Paz, striking multiple vehicles on a highway before coming to rest in a nearby field. Pavel Tovar, a local fire chief, confirmed the fatalities but did not specify whether the victims were aboard the plane or in the vehicles on the ground.

The aircraft, identified as a Bolivian air force Hercules plane, was carrying fresh currency from the Central Bank to other regions of the country. The crash caused extensive destruction, with debris damaging around 15 vehicles and bodies reported on the roadway. Emergency crews worked to extinguish flames that engulfed the wreckage, while authorities temporarily suspended all flights to and from the nearby airport.

Large amounts of cash were scattered across the crash site, prompting crowds to gather and attempt to collect the bills. Images shared on social media showed police in riot gear dispersing people from the area as rescue operations continued. Officials have yet to determine whether the aircraft was taking off or landing at the time of the crash, and an investigation into the cause is underway.

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