Ziggy Ojiegbe

Hundreds of people rushed to grab newly minted Bolivian currency notes after a military cargo plane crashed near the capital on Friday, killing at least 15 people and injuring others, officials said.

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The aircraft, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules operated by the Bolivian Air Force, went down near El Alto, a city next to La Paz. The plane had been transporting newly printed banknotes when it attempted to land, veered off the runway at El Alto airport and crashed into a nearby field, according to Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas.

The crash damaged around 15 vehicles on a highway close to the airport. Fire chief Pavel Tovar said at least 15 people were killed but did not clarify whether the victims were crew members or people on the ground. Several others were reported injured. Firefighters later extinguished flames that engulfed the aircraft.

Bolivian Air Force Gen. Sergio Lora said the plane had six crew members on board and was arriving from the eastern city of Santa Cruz. As of late Friday, two crew members were still missing.

Videos shared on social media showed wreckage scattered across the road, destroyed cars and bodies lying near the crash site. Banknotes were seen strewn across the area, prompting crowds to gather and collect the cash while police in riot gear tried to disperse them.

Authorities said the crowds hampered rescue efforts. More than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers were deployed to secure the scene and restore order.

Central Bank President David Espinoza said the banknotes had arrived in Santa Cruz from abroad and were being transported to La Paz. He stated that the bills “have no legal value because they never entered circulation,” though he did not specify the total amount being carried. Police and military personnel later burned damaged cash boxes under official supervision.

Officials said the cause of the crash remains under investigation.