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| Crowds clash with police after Bolivian plane crash (Image: BBC) |
According to Bolivian authorities, a cargo plane used by the country's air force crashed in the western city of El Alto, injuring at least 15 people. According to aviation officials, the incident occurred on Friday at 18:15 local time (22:15 GMT) as the plane was departing Santa Cruz for El Alto's airport. It was said to have slid off the runway and hit cars in the area. Later, the defense ministry confirmed that its C-130 Hercules were involved and were transporting banknotes to the Bolivian Central Bank. The air force commander stated that the plane had eight passengers. To disperse crowds that were allegedly attempting to steal the scattered banknotes, police used tear gas.
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The plane was seen on the ground, as were severely damaged vehicles, as captured on video. People were seen fleeing the tear gas and police officers in other videos, some of whom were holding shields, in a line. Rocks are thrown by some of the crowd. The National Association of Journalists of Bolivia stated in a statement, "While news crews were covering the accident, individuals attempting to steal the transported money attacked the press with unusual violence." It stated that a mobile television unit had been "directly targeted" and that other journalists had been "attacked with stones, suffering from serious injuries while carrying out their work." At least a dozen people were arrested for stealing banknotes, according to the Bolivian News Agency, which is run by the government.
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| Crowds clash with police after Bolivian plane crash (Image: BBC) |
Marcelo Salinas, the Minister of Defense, stated, "I want to make it clear to those who are trying to take money from the plane involved in this tragedy that this money has no legal value since it has not been issued by the Central Bank and does not have a serial number, and that attempting to use this money is a crime." "We also ask all those who are committing acts of vandalism in this area to stop and respect the grief and mourning we are experiencing at this difficult time." Sergio Lora, commander of Bolivia's Air Force, confirmed that the plane had eight crew members, "including cargo personnel and flight crew." According to the Bolivian health ministry, the incident resulted in 31 injuries. Additionally, an urgent request for blood donations was made.
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| Bolivian banknotes were seen scattered at the crash site (Image: Reuters) |
Following the accident, El Alto International Airport was temporarily closed. "My sister informed me that she was inside the vehicle when the plane went down. "We rushed my sister to the hospital because the impact of the tire hitting her on the head caused her to be injured," a man told the Reuters news agency. "The plane's tire fell on the car." Although some witnesses stated that the weather at the time was treacherous, the cause of the crash was not immediately apparent. A woman whose car was struck by the plane wreckage told the AFP news agency that "there was lightning" and "a heavy hailstorm" were falling when the plane went down. The incident is currently the subject of an investigation.
Source: BBC
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