2026 Bolivian Air Force Lockheed C-130 crash
FAB-81, the Lockheed C-130H Hercules involved in the accident, seen in 2024 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 27 February 2026 |
| Summary | Crashed into a highway after runway excursion, under investigation |
| Site | |
| Total fatalities | 24+ |
| Total injuries | 43+ |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Lockheed C-130H Hercules |
| Operator | Bolivian Air Force |
| Registration | FAB-81 |
| Flight origin | Viru Viru International Airport, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia |
| Destination | El Alto International Airport, El Alto, Bolivia |
| Occupants | 8 |
| Crew | 8 |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 6 |
| Missing | 1 |
| Survivors | 6 |
| Ground casualties | |
| Ground fatalities | 23+ |
| Ground injuries | 37+ |
On 27 February 2026, a Bolivian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules on a domestic flight from Viru Viru International Airport, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, to El Alto International Airport, La Paz, suffered a runway excursion after landing and crashed onto a busy road, impacting 15 vehicles, killing at least 24 people, and injuring more than 43 others.
The aircraft was carrying a large shipment of newly printed banknotes on behalf of the Central Bank of Bolivia, intended to be distributed within the national monetary system. The impact scattered large quantities of banknotes across the crash site, drawing the attention of bystanders who attempted to collect the currency. Law enforcement authorities subsequently secured the area and later destroyed the banknotes to prevent their circulation.