AP — La Paz, Feb 28, 2026
A Bolivian Air Force Hercules cargo plane carrying new banknotes crashed Friday near the capital, scattering bills, damaging about a dozen vehicles on a highway and killing at least 15 people, officials said.
Fire Chief Pavel Tovar said he could not confirm whether the dead were on the aircraft or in the cars struck on the road near El Alto’s airport. He added that there were also injured people.
Photos and videos circulating on social media showed the aircraft had struck vehicles in El Alto, which borders La Paz, before coming to rest in a nearby field. There were conflicting reports about whether the plane was taking off or landing when it went down. Debris, destroyed vehicles and bodies littered the highway; Tovar said about 15 vehicles were involved. Firefighters extinguished flames at the scene.
The military plane was transporting newly printed banknotes from the Central Bank to other cities, and a large number of bills were strewn across the crash site. Images showed people rushing to collect the money while police in riot gear attempted to disperse crowds. Authorities temporarily suspended all flights to and from the terminal.
