At least 82 people are feared dead following two separate aircraft crashes in the United States and Colombia, with authorities still battling to determine the full scale of casualties as rescue operations continue.
The casualties both occurred on Monday, miles apart. In the United States, Air Canada President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Rousseau, described the crash involving one of its flights at LaGuardia Airport in New York as “a very sombre day” for the airline and all those affected.
In a video statement posted on social media, Rousseau expressed deep sorrow over the incident, extending condolences to passengers, crew members, and their families. He said, “Today is a very sombre day at Air Canada. We express our deepest sorrow for everyone affected — passengers, crew, and their families.”
He added that while investigations were ongoing, the airline did not yet have all the answers regarding the cause of the crash. “There are still many questions at this early stage, and we do not yet have all the answers as the circumstances are still being assessed,” Rousseau stated.
According to him, the Montreal to New York flight was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members at the time of the crash. He confirmed that both the pilot and co-pilot lost their lives in the incident, noting that efforts were ongoing in collaboration with relevant authorities to ascertain the number of injured passengers.
Rousseau further disclosed that the airline had activated its special assistance team to provide support for victims and their families. “Members of our special assistance team are on their way to New York to support those impacted by this incident and their loved ones,” he added.
Meanwhile, in Colombia, a military transport aircraft belonging to the Colombian Air Force crashed in the southern part of the country near the border with Peru, sparking fears of mass casualties.
A Colombian military official told AFP that about 80 soldiers, comprising two platoons, were believed to be on board the aircraft at the time of the crash, although some other local media reports suggested the number of occupants could exceed 100.
The aircraft, identified as a US-made C-130 Hercules used for troop transport, reportedly went down near the town of Puerto Leguízamo in Putumayo province for a yet-to-be-identified reason.
Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez described the incident as a tragic occurrence, saying the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff. He said, “The plane suffered a tragic accident while it was taking off from Puerto Leguízamo, transporting troops of our security forces.”
He noted that the exact number of casualties had yet to be confirmed but described the development as “deeply sad for the country.” Footage shared by local news platforms appeared to show residents assisting in rescue efforts, transporting injured soldiers to hospitals on motorbikes due to the remoteness of the location.
Reacting to the incident, Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed hope that the crash would not result in fatalities, even as he acknowledged the severity of the situation.
“I hope that we won’t have fatalities in this horrendous accident, which should not have happened,” Petro wrote on X.
In a strongly worded statement, the president also blamed bureaucratic delays for hindering efforts to modernise the country’s military equipment.
“I will allow no further delays; the lives of our young people are at stake,” he said, but refused to provide details on the possible cause of the crash.
