How many Hercules aircraft are there in Colombia? The C-130H that crashed in Putumayo was a donated aircraft.

News: The Hercules aircraft was repaired in 2023 and was airworthy. Photo: EL TIEMPO / Private Archive March 24, 2026, 10:49 AM. Updated: March 24, 2026, 10:49 AM. At 9:54 AM on Monday, March 23, 2026, a C-130 aircraft, registration number FAC 1016, crashed, carrying 128 people on board. The incident resulted in 57 people being rescued alive, and, according to official reports, at least 68 fatalities. The aircraft, which was flying the route from Puerto Leguízamo to Puerto Asís, crashed seconds after takeoff, making this one of the largest military aviation tragedies of the century. READ ALSO: Following this accident, attention has also focused on the number of these aircraft in the country. According to data on the official website, this historical fleet has consisted of a total of 13 aircraft of this model. The history of these aircraft dates back to February 1968, with the arrival of aircraft with registration numbers FAC 1001 and 1002; then came the 1003, in the B version. From the beginning, they were assigned to the Military Air Transport Command (CATAM) in Bogotá. Photo: EFE. Aircraft accident: C-130H Hercules of the Air Force. In 1984, two more C-130H aircraft, FAC 1004 and 1005, arrived; in 1987, with the support of the United States, eight additional C-130B aircraft were acquired. However, in 2020, the most recent modernization included FAC 1016, which was the one that suffered the tragic accident, followed by FAC 1017 and 1018 in 2021. With the loss of this aircraft, the active fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft in the Colombian Aerospace Force is reduced to 12 aircraft. READ ALSO: Authorities are investigating what actually happened and why the aircraft failed to take off, although they ruled out that it was an act of terrorism. How much did the C-130H aircraft cost? The Hercules C-130 aircraft, with registration number FAC 1016, did not represent a direct purchase cost for the country, as it was donated by the Government of the United States, according to information from the military institution. This donation was part of the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. Photo: Taken from a video on social media. This donation was part of the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program, with the aim of strengthening humanitarian aid operations, personnel transport, and missions related to national security. This FAC 1016 was the first of a group of three aircraft delivered under the same military cooperation agreement. READ ALSO: The Hercules aircraft have been essential in responding to various natural disasters that have occurred in the country, such as the tragedy of Armero, the earthquake in the Coffee Region, and the landslides in Cauca and Huila in 1994, among others. More news on EL TIEMPO. Wendy Pitre Ariza. Digital Reach Editorial Team. EL TIEMPO. Follow all the information from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERS: Register for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed with what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWS: Follow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Stay always updated with the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on Google News. EL TIEMPO WHATSAPP: Join the El Tiempo channel on WhatsApp to stay up-to-date with the most relevant news at the moment. EL TIEMPO APP: Stay informed with the EL TIEMPO app. Receive the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on your device. SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL: Reliable information for you. Subscribe to EL TIEMPO and access our journalistic content without limits.