A Bolivian Air Force cargo plane carrying stacks of freshly printed banknotes crashed dramatically onto a highway near La Paz on Friday evening, killing at least 15 people and sparking chaotic scenes as bystanders scrambled for the scattered cash. The C-130 Hercules departed from Santa Cruz in eastern Bolivia, bound for El Alto's high-altitude airport—one of the world's trickiest for landings due to its 13,000-foot elevation and frequent brutal weather. Around 6:20 PM, amid hailstorms and lightning, the pilot declared an emergency before the plane veered off the runway, struck 15 vehicles on the nearby highway—including packed minibuses—and erupted in flames.

Bolivian Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas confirmed the "runway excursion" to reporters, noting severe weather as a likely culprit. Firefighters battled the blaze while rescue teams pulled survivors from wreckage strewn across the road and into a field. Among the dead are believed to be members of the six-person crew and motorists caught in the impact zone.

Adding to the tragedy, bundles of new boliviano notes burst from the cargo hold, littering the crash site like fallen leaves. Videos circulating online show hundreds of locals rushing past emergency workers to grab fistfuls of bills, prompting riot police to deploy tear gas and restore order. Officials warn that the looted currency—worth millions—could fuel Bolivia's underground economy, already strained by rising inflation and dollar shortages. El Alto fire chief Pavel Tovar reported over 20 injuries, with the airport halting flights temporarily. Two crew members remain missing as search efforts continue.

This marks another blow to Bolivia's military aviation record, where aging aircraft and Andean weather have led to multiple fatal incidents in recent years. Aviation experts point to El Alto's thin air and sudden storms as perennial risks, urging upgrades to radar and pilot training. Authorities have launched a probe into mechanical issues, weather data, and air traffic control, while the central bank scrambles to recover and track the dispersed notes to avert fraud. President Luis Arce expressed condolences, vowing a thorough review to prevent future disasters. Updates are expected as recovery operations wrap up. Stay tuned for more on this developing story.