A day of deep sorrow and bewashment is being experienced in the city of El Alto following the tragic accident of a Bolivian Air Force (FAB) aircraft. A Hercules C-130 aircraft, transporting a significant cargo of money belonging to the Central Bank of Bolivia, crashed on Friday afternoon, tragically impacting a densely populated urban area, according to the Argentine News Agency. The accident occurred at approximately 18:00 local time in the vicinity of La Paz International Airport. In its path, the heavy military transport collided with at least ten vehicles, causing a trail of destruction. Colonel Pavel Tovar, National Fire Commander, confirmed that the disaster has left a lamentable toll of 15 deceased victims of the impact and the dragging of the aircraft on the public road. The departmental and national government are coordinating actions to assist the victims and secure the perimeter of the disaster. This tragedy not only mourns the nation of Bolivia for the loss of human lives but also highlights the vulnerability of air operations in urban areas near international terminals and the complex social reaction to crisis situations. José Antonio Fanola, head of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC), formally informed that the aircraft went off the runway after completing the landing maneuver, confirming the magnitude of the event. As an immediate security measure and to facilitate emergency operations, all flights to and from the city of La Paz have been suspended. Due to the chaos and risk to the integrity of civilians, law enforcement forces were forced to intervene. Tear gas was used to disperse the crowd and safeguard state assets. Despite police action, sources of tension and chaos were reported in adjacent areas, hindering rescue and forensic work. The aviation authorities have initiated investigations to determine the exact causes that prevented the aircraft from stopping safely. According to preliminary reports, the aircraft lost a wing and went off the runway after landing, sliding for more than 1,000 meters along a main avenue. The Northern Hospital of El Alto reported the admission of 10 injured, eight of whom are in critical condition, fighting for their lives. The incident took on an extraordinary turn when it was revealed that the aircraft was transporting remittances of money. Upon impact, an immense amount of bills was scattered across the asphalt, causing hundreds of El Alto residents to approach the site intending to collect the cash. Despite the imminent risk of explosion from spilled fuel and the instability of the fuselage wreckage, the crowd overran the initial security cordons.
