At least 15 people died after a Bolivian military cargo plane carrying banknotes crashed while landing near La Paz, prompting police intervention at the scene

At least 15 people were killed on Friday after a Bolivian military cargo aircraft carrying banknotes crashed while attempting to land near the capital, La Paz, authorities confirmed.

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The aircraft, identified as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, reportedly veered off the runway during landing at El Alto International Airport before crashing onto a busy avenue, destroying several vehicles and damaging trucks in the process.

Colonel Pavel Tovar of Bolivia’s National Fire Department told reporters that emergency responders had recovered between 15 and 16 bodies from the disaster scene.

Several of the victims were reportedly on the roadway when the aircraft struck passing vehicles.

Bolivia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the incident but did not immediately disclose the cause of the crash. Local reports indicated that at least two dozen others sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals.

According to the state air navigation authority, the aircraft had departed from Santa Cruz de la Sierra and was transporting Bolivian banknotes when the accident occurred.

The impact scattered large quantities of cash across the crash site.

Television footage showed police deploying tear gas to disperse bystanders who attempted to collect the money amid rescue operations. Authorities later secured the area as investigators began examining the wreckage.

Airport operations at El Alto International Airport were temporarily suspended following the crash.

Situated about 3,650 metres above sea level and surrounded by the Andes mountains, La Paz is regarded as the world’s highest administrative capital — a factor aviation experts often note can complicate aircraft performance during take-off and landing.

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Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.