AP — La Paz, Feb 28, 2026
A Bolivian Air Force Hercules cargo plane transporting newly printed banknotes crashed Friday near the capital, scattering bills across a highway, damaging about a dozen vehicles and killing at least 15 people, authorities said.
Fire Chief Pavel Tovar said officials could not yet confirm whether the fatalities were aboard the aircraft or in the cars it struck near the El Alto airport. He added that there were also injured people at the scene. Social media photos and videos showed the plane hitting vehicles in El Alto, which borders La Paz, before coming to rest in a nearby field.
Accounts differed on whether the aircraft was taking off or landing when it went down. Debris, destroyed vehicles and bodies littered the highway; Tovar estimated about 15 vehicles were involved. Firefighters worked to extinguish flames and secure the area.
The military plane was carrying newly printed notes from the Central Bank destined for other cities. Large quantities of bills were scattered across the crash site, and footage showed people rushing to collect money while police in riot gear tried to disperse crowds. Authorities temporarily suspended all flights to and from the terminal as investigators and emergency crews responded.
