15 killed as Bolivian Air Force plane carrying new banknotes crashes near La Paz

At least 15 people were killed and 30 injured after a Bolivian Air Force Hercules aircraft transporting newly printed banknotes crashed onto a busy road in El Alto near La Paz on February 27 evening.

The military plane went down shortly after takeoff, slamming into vehicles in a densely populated neighborhood adjacent to El Alto International Airport. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as debris rained across the roadway and several vehicles were crushed or left mangled on impact.

Officials confirmed that both civilians on the ground and individuals onboard the aircraft were among the dead. At least 30 people were injured, some critically, and were rushed to nearby hospitals as emergency responders cordoned off the crash site.

The aircraft was carrying newly printed currency from Bolivia’s central bank at the time of the crash. Authorities indicated that adverse weather conditions may have contributed to the accident, though a formal investigation is underway.

Airport operations at El Alto were temporarily suspended following the incident. Bolivia’s state-run carrier, Boliviana de Aviacion, clarified in a statement that the aircraft involved did not belong to its fleet.

El Alto, perched at more than 4,000 metres above sea level and bordering La Paz, is one of Bolivia’s most densely populated urban centres — a factor that amplified the scale of devastation when the aircraft plunged into a public roadway instead of open ground.