BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed serious concerns regarding the use of secondhand military aircraft by the Colombian armed forces. His remarks came in light of the ongoing investigation into the recent tragic crash of a military transport plane in southwestern Colombia, which resulted in the death of at least 66 soldiers.
Petro took to social media platform X, stating, “An army cannot defend its own people with crappy gifts,” referring to the Hercules CJ-130 aircraft that had been donated to Colombia by the United States. He criticized the practice of accepting what he termed “useless gifts,” arguing that such donations cost more in the long run compared to procuring new equipment.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Monday when a military transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the airport in Putumayo province. According to the Defense Ministry, while 66 soldiers lost their lives in the accident, 57 survivors were rescued and are now receiving medical treatment in Bogotá and other locations.
The Hercules CJ-130 was gifted to Colombia by the U.S. in 2020, as part of a cooperation agreement that also included the donation of two additional used Hercules planes. Earlier this year, the aircraft underwent an overhaul that involved inspecting its engines and replacing key components, highlighting the attention given to maintaining the aircraft.
Erich Saumeth, a Colombian aviation expert, emphasized the need for thorough investigation to ascertain why the four-engine Hercules failed shortly after takeoff. Saumeth expressed skepticism that the crash was linked to the quality of the plane’s parts. Meanwhile, former Colombian President Iván Duque, who was in office during the donation of the aircraft, urged Petro to remain calm and focus on a rigorous investigation, particularly regarding the plane's weight relative to the length of the runway at Puerto Leguizamo airport.
The runway at Puerto Leguizamo is notably short, measuring just 1.2 kilometers (less than one mile), and officials reported that the plane crashed in a field less than 2 kilometers from the airport. Petro has capitalized on this tragic event to advocate for his long-standing campaign aimed at modernizing military aircraft and equipment, citing bureaucratic hurdles as an impediment and suggesting that accountability measures should be implemented for officials in charge.
“If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to the challenge, they must be removed,” Petro stated in a message on X. Critics of his administration have pointed out the lack of effective execution of military contracts during his tenure and have noted cuts to Colombia’s defense budget, which have resulted in fewer flight hours for military aircraft.
