Colombian President Gustavo Petro has condemned the use of secondhand military aircraft following a crash that killed at least 66 soldiers. The transport plane, a Hercules CJ-130 donated by the United States, went down shortly after takeoff in Putumayo province on Monday.
Writing on social media, Petro questioned the value of such donations, stating: 'An army cannot defend its own people with crappy gifts.' He added that the aircraft were 'useless' to the donor and that the gift often ends up costing more than buying new.
The Defence Ministry confirmed 66 fatalities and 57 survivors, who are receiving treatment in Bogota and other locations. The Hercules CJ-130 was part of a 2020 cooperation agreement with the US and underwent a major overhaul in 2023, including engine inspections and component replacements.
Aviation expert Erich Saumeth said investigators must determine why the four-engine plane failed so soon after takeoff, but doubted it was due to a lack of good parts. Former President Iván Duque, who accepted the donation, urged Petro to 'calm down' and conduct a rigorous investigation into weight and runway length factors.
The airport in Puerto Leguizamo has a short runway of just 1.2 kilometres, and the plane crashed in a field less than 2 kilometres away. Petro has used the accident to push for military modernisation, blaming 'bureaucratic difficulties' and calling for accountability among officials.
Critics note that military contracts and flight hours have declined under Petro's administration due to defence budget cuts. The crash has sparked debate over the safety and cost-effectiveness of donated military equipment.
