A military cargo plane carrying new Bolivian banknotes crashed near the capital on Friday after skidding off a runway and plowing into a busy road in the neighbouring city of El Alto, with at least 15 confirmed dead and more than 30 others injured.
The crash occurred at 6:20pm local time (2220GMT) as the plane was landing at the El Alto International Airport, having departed from Santa Cruz, the nation’s air traffic control authority reported.
The Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft had departed from the eastern city of Santa Cruz and veered off the runway before striking multiple vehicles on a crowded avenue.
It damaged a dozen cars before coming to rest in a nearby field, officials confirmed.
Fire Chief Pavel Tovar said emergency crews were still determining whether the fatalities occurred on board the aircraft or among motorists on the highway.
Firefighters later extinguished flames caused by the impact.
The plane was transporting newly printed Bolivian banknotes, which scattered across the roadway during the crash.
This prompted chaotic scenes as residents rushed to collect the cash while police in riot gear attempted to disperse crowds.
Authorities also used water hoses to push people from the debris area.
The Defence Ministry did not immediately release operational details.
The state air navigation authority NAABOL said the aircraft had flown from Santa Cruz, while officials continued to investigate whether the crash occurred during landing or takeoff.
NAN/AA.
