At least 15 dead after plane packed with banknotes crashes onto motorway in Bolivia

Defence minister Marcelo Salinas said the plane “landed and veered off the runway” at El Alto airport before ploughing into a nearby field and striking traffic on the road below.

The crash occurred at around 6.20pm local time in poor weather conditions.

At least 15 vehicles were hit as the aircraft burst into flames on impact, with emergency crews later extinguishing the blaze.

National fire chief Pavel Tovar confirmed the death toll but said it remained unclear whether the victims had been on board the plane or inside vehicles on the motorway.

He warned the number of fatalities could rise as rescue efforts continue.

Two of the six crew members were still unaccounted for by late Friday, Bolivian air force general Sergio Lora said.

Images from the scene showed the aircraft split in two, with cars crushed into twisted metal and shattered glass.

Banknotes scattered across the crash site triggered chaotic scenes as hundreds of people rushed towards the wreckage, severely hampering rescue efforts, Mr Tovar said.

Police in riot gear deployed tear gas to push back crowds attempting to collect the loose currency.

Authorities deployed more than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers to regain control, while water hoses were used to disperse those trying to seize the cash.

Central Bank president David Espinoza travelled to the site to oversee the destruction of the remaining banknotes, with police and military personnel ordered to set fire to boxes of cash.

The bills “have no legal value because they never entered circulation,” Mr Espinoza said.

He confirmed the notes had arrived in Santa Cruz from overseas but declined to disclose the total amount being transported.

Bolivia’s defence ministry warned that collecting or attempting to spend the new currency would be a criminal offence.

Flights at the airport were temporarily suspended but have since resumed.

At El Alto’s Hospital del Norte, where many of the injured are being treated, staff placed a black ribbon at the entrance as a sign of mourning.

Footage from local broadcaster ATB showed anxious family members searching for information about loved ones.

Investigators are now working to determine the cause of the crash.

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