A military plane crash in Bolivia on Friday evening has left at least 15 people dead, with reports emerging of cash scattering across the crash site. The incident, which occurred in El Alto, the country’s second-largest city, has prompted a temporary closure of the international airport and a request from authorities for the public to return any recovered banknotes.
According to the Bolivian Ministry of Defense, the downed aircraft was a Hercules transport plane carrying new banknotes. Officials have attributed the crash to adverse weather conditions. The incident highlights the logistical challenges of transporting currency in the region and raises questions about security protocols.
Early reports indicate that residents quickly gathered at the crash site, collecting the scattered money. Reuters reported that security forces attempted to disperse the crowds using water cannons, though the agency noted it could not independently verify the authenticity of the circulating footage.
Boliviana de Aviacion, the national airline, announced the temporary closure of El Alto International Airport following the crash. The closure is likely to disrupt travel plans and potentially impact regional trade.
The President of the Central Bank of Bolivia confirmed that the plane was indeed transporting money, having departed from Santa Cruz with a destination of El Alto. The banknotes were produced by Crane Currency, a company based in Malta, at the bank’s request.
However, the Central Bank President emphasized that the banknotes had not yet been “monetized” and therefore had no legal tender value. “We ask for their return,” he stated, adding that possessing or using the banknotes is a crime. The bank is urging anyone who has recovered the currency to hand it over to authorities.
