Money flies, 20 die as Air Force plane transporting cash crashes in Bolivia

International

At LEAST 20 people died and dozens were hurt when a Bolivian military cargo plane crashed in El Alto on Friday evening, authorities said.

The plane, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules operated by the Bolivian Air Force, was flying in from Santa Cruz when it skidded off the runway at about 6:15 p.m. local time and slammed into vehicles near the airport, a report by BBC stated.

Rescue officials first put the death toll at 15, but it later climbed to at least 20. The health ministry said 31 people were injured and called for blood donations. Eight crew members were on board the aircraft.

The defence ministry said the plane had been carrying banknotes bound for the Central Bank of Bolivia. After the crash, bills were scattered across the site. Police used tear gas to push back crowds who tried to grab the money, and state media reported that at least a dozen people were arrested.

According to BBC, some journalists covering the crash were attacked by people attempting to take the banknotes, leaving several reporters injured.

Defence Minister Marcelo Salinas said the bills had no legal value because they had not yet been issued and did not carry serial numbers. He warned that trying to use them would be a crime.

El Alto International Airport was temporarily shut down after the crash. Witnesses said heavy hail and lightning were hitting the area at the time. An investigation is under way.(Georgia Olivar, USJ-R Comm Intern)