The plane was transporting newly printed currency and veered off the runway and onto a highway before coming to rest in a nearby field where people rush to collect the scattered money
A cargo plane transporting money crashed, leaving 15 people dead and others injured.
The aircraft, a Hercules C-130 plane, was transporting newly printed Bolivian currency on Friday, February 27 near the country’s capital. It veered off the runway, damaging vehicles on a highway and scattering the bills, The Associated Press reported.
Defence Minister Marcelo Salinas said the plane “landed and veered off the runway ” at an airport in El Alto, a city adjacent to the capital La Paz. It came to rest in a nearby field. The aircraft was arriving from the eastern city of Santa Cruz where it had picked up its cargo.
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He said the cause was being investigated.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames that engulfed the aircraft.
Fire chief Pavel Tovar said at least 15 people died. It is unclear whether the deceased were in the plane or in the cars on the highway.
Bolivian Air Force General Sergio Lora said two of the plane’s six crew members had not been found as of late Friday.
Images on social media showed debris from the aircraft, destroyed cars and bodies on the road. At least 15 vehicles were damaged in the incident.
Images also showed people rushing to collect the scattered money, The Associated Press reported. Police in riot gear tried to disperse them.
Fire chief Tovar said the hundreds of people trying to collect the money were hindering rescue efforts.
More than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers took control of the area to disperse them, according to official reports.
Police and military personnel burned the cash boxes in the presence of Central Bank President David Espinoza.
He said the bills “have no legal value because they never entered circulation,” but did not clarify what that meant.
The central banker did not specify the amount of money being transported.
Authorities temporarily suspended all flights to and from the terminal.
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