Cargo plane carrying money crashes near Bolivia's capital, killing at least 15 people, official says

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — A cargo plane carrying money crashed Friday near Bolivia’s capital, damaging about a dozen vehicles on highway, scattering bills on the ground and leaving at least 15 people dead and others injured, an official said.

Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas said the Hercules C-130 plane was transporting newly printed Bolivian currency when it “landed and veered off the runway" at an airport in El Alto, a city adjacent to the capital of La Paz, before ending up in a nearby field. Firefighters managed to put out the flames that engulfed the aircraft.

Fire chief Pavel Tovar said at least 15 people died but he did not clarify if the dead were in the plane or in the cars on the nearby highway.

Salinas did not specify how many people had been killed in the crash and said the cause was being investigated.

Bolivian Air Force Gen. Sergio Lora said two of the plane's six crew members had not been found as of late Friday, adding that the aircraft was arriving from the eastern city of Santa Cruz.

Images on social media showed debris from the aircraft, destroyed cars and bodies scattered on the road. According to Tovar, at least 15 vehicles were damaged.

The plane, belonging to the Bolivian air force, was transporting money to La Paz and images on social media showed people rushing to collect the bills scattered at the crash site, while police in riot gear tried to disperse them.

Tovar said the hundreds of people trying to collect the spilled bills were hindering rescue efforts.

More than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers took control of the area to disperse the mob, according to official reports. Police and military personnel burned the cash boxes in the presence of Central Bank President David Espinoza, who said the bills “have no legal value because they never entered circulation,” without clarifying what that meant.

Espinoza did not specify the amount of money being transported but he said the banknotes had arrived in Santa Cruz from abroad.

Authorities temporarily suspended all flights to and from the terminal.

Police stands next to a plane that crashed in El Alto, Bolivia, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

People walk on the scene where a plane crashed on a highway in El Alto, Bolivia, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Military police on the scene where a plane crashed in El Alto, Bolivia, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A police covers himself from tear gas spread to disperse people from getting near the area where a aircraft that was transporting money crashed on a highway, in El Alto, Bolivia, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Police stands near a destroyed car that was struck by a plane in El Alto, Bolivia, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A military police stands next to a plane that crashed in El Alto, Bolivia, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 28 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and the Boston Celtics rolled past the Brooklyn Nets 148-111 on Friday night.

Nikola Vucevic finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double since joining the Celtics. Payton Pritchard added 22 points for Boston, which has won five of six since returning from the All-Star break.

The Celtics shot a season-high 66.7% from the field and connected on 22 3-pointers. They also got 77 points from their bench.

Michael Porter Jr. finished with 18 points for Brooklyn, which has lost seven straight games.

The Celtics took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Nets 43-26. Brooklyn managed only seven points over the final 6:23 of the period.

Boston shot 15 of 19 from the field with 12 assists in the pivotal quarter and connected 5 of 7 attempts from the 3-point line

Boston’s lead grew to as many as 41 points in the fourth.

The Celtics shot 62% from the field (24 of 39) and 60% from the 3-point line (12 of 20), yet only led 66-57 at halftime.

The Nets were able to stay close thanks to eighth Boston turnovers, which Brooklyn turned into 12 points.

The Celtics had only four turnovers in the second half.

Nets: Host Cleveland on Sunday.

Celtics: Host 76ers on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, jokes with assistant coach Sam Cassell during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic (4) tries to block a shot by Brooklyn Nets forward Josh Minott (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Brooklyn Nets guard Terance Mann, right, passes the ball while pressured by Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) lines up a dunk against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore (88) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)