At least 15 people were killed on Friday when a Bolivian military cargo plane transporting banknotes crashed while attempting to land near the capital, La Paz, authorities said.

The aircraft, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, veered off the runway at El Alto International Airport before crashing into a nearby avenue, destroying several cars and damaging trucks.

Colonel Pavel Tovar of Bolivia’s National Fire Department told reporters that “between 15 and 16 people have been counted” among the dead. He said recovery operations were ongoing at the scene.

Bolivia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the crash but did not immediately release further details. Reports indicated that at least two dozen other people sustained injuries.

According to the Bolivian Air Navigation and Airports Authority (NAABOL), the plane had departed from Santa Cruz and crashed during its landing approach, prompting the suspension of operations at the airport.

The aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, was carrying Bolivian banknotes that scattered across the crash site upon impact. Local media footage showed police deploying tear gas to disperse bystanders attempting to gather the loose cash.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

La Paz, situated at about 3,650 metres above sea level and surrounded by Andean peaks, is considered the highest administrative capital in the world.