At Least 15 Killed as Plane Transporting Cash Crashes in Bolivia

At least 15 people were killed and 28 injured Friday when a Hercules C-130 operated by the Bolivian Air Force crashed while landing at El Alto airport near La Paz, authorities said.

The aircraft, arriving from Santa Cruz, was transporting newly printed currency when it veered off the runway and struck a nearby area, damaging about a dozen vehicles.

Fire chief Pavel Tovar said between 15 and 16 bodies had been recovered, and two of the six crew members remained missing.

Officials said the scattered banknotes belonged to the Central Bank of Bolivia but had no legal value because they lacked official serial numbers.

It added that collecting, possessing or using the bills constitutes a crime.

Police and military forces secured the scene and used tear gas to disperse people attempting to approach the wreckage.

President Rodrigo Paz expressed condolences to the victims’ families, calling it “a day of great pain.” Authorities said the cause of the crash is under investigation. (Agencies)