A Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules carrying approximately 18 tons of newly printed boliviano banknotes worth $62 million crashed on February 27, 2026, while attempting to land at El Alto International Airport near La Paz, killing 22 people and injuring about 29.
The aircraft slid off the runway, breached the perimeter fence, and struck vehicles on Costanera Avenue in El Alto, the high-altitude city serving as Bolivia’s administrative capital. Most fatalities were civilians on public buses hit during the impact, with at least one crew member among the dead; seven crew survived with injuries, and one remained missing.
Wind scattered the uncut bills across the roadway and fields, drawing thousands of residents who rushed into the wreckage-strewn area amid fires and bodies, hindering rescue efforts. Security forces deployed tear gas, arrested dozens, and later burned bundles of recovered notes to prevent circulation, sparking protests in the economically strained city.
Bolivia’s Central Bank stated the bills lacked legal value as they had not entered circulation. President David Espinoza noted serial numbers would allow tracking and invalidation of stolen notes, estimated at 30% by some reports.
Investigators searched for the black box amid reports of a hailstorm. President Rodrigo Paz declared it a national tragedy, ordering a full probe and three days of mourning with flags at half-mast.