The Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) issued a statement on its website providing details of the Hercules C-130 aircraft accident on March 23, which left 69 uniformed personnel dead and 54 injured.
Nineteen days after the Colombian Aerospace Force 's C-130 Hercules aircraft crash in the municipality of Puerto Leguízamo, Putumayo, new information has emerged that adds to the investigations of the accident and increases concern in various sectors.
According to the media reports, the crashed aircraft (C-130 Hercules aircraft, registration FAC 1016) was uninsured, a fact that raises questions about the operational readiness of the military fleet.
Through the official document, the FAC stated that:
“This institution prioritizes life through the training of its members, as well as the planning and effectiveness of each of the operations, fulfilling the constitutional mission with integrity and security.”
Reports indicate that the Colombian Air Force (FAC) had warned as early as January 2026 of a shortfall of approximately 258 billion pesos in insurance coverage for all its aircraft, a situation that was reportedly known to the government but for which the necessary funds were not allocated.
This statement comes amid the debate over air safety conditions and the readiness of the Public Force's aircraft in the country.
It's also specified that in Colombia all active military personnel have mandatory life insurance, differentiating this coverage from the protection of aircraft.
This information comes days after a political oversight hearing in the Colombian Senate , where the accident was analyzed. During the session, the commander of the Colombian Air Force (FAC), General Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda, indicated that a preliminary report clarifying the causes of the incident is expected to be completed before the end of April.
However, no reference was made to the conditions of the aircraft's insurance in that space, which has generated new criticism and requests for greater transparency regarding the case.
The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, insisted on Wednesday, March 25, that the possible cause of the crash of the Hercules C-130 plane, would be the age of the aircraft, without conclusive evidence having been presented, while experts emphasize that the investigation is still ongoing.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro:
“Why did they give us a 43-year-old plane? Everyone here knows that machines have a useful life, any businessman knows that.” The Colombian president said that "there is no plane with a useful life of a century" and that the age of the plane is a factor that increases the probability of an accident.
In recent weeks, official explanations have focused primarily on technical aspects. Among these, it has been stated that the aircraft had the capacity to operate for more than 40 years, thanks to the maintenance performed throughout its service life.
Despite this, authorities continue to advance in the investigations to determine precisely what caused the accident, while doubts grow about the administrative and financial management of the military air fleet in Colombia.
