One person has been confirmed dead and 77 others rescued after a military transport plane carrying 125 people crashed in Colombia on Monday.

Colombia’s minister of defence Pedro Anulfo confirmed the incident. He stated that the plane had “suffered a tragic accident” as he hoped the prayers of Colombians would help alleviate the “pain” of the victims’ families. 

Trending videos on social media captured the last minutes of the flight with the Lockheed Martin Hercules ‌C-130 aircraft seen rapidly descending before crashing into a remote area deep in the southern Amazon region, on the border with Peru.

Colombian Air Force Commander Fernando Silva said in a video posted on social ‌media that the plane was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members, many of whom reports said were soldiers. 

Authorities confirmed on Monday evening that one person was killed, while 77 other passengers had been rescued and taken to hospital. The remaining passengers onboard were still missing. 

Mr Silva added that officials were investigating the cause of the crash. 

Reacting to the incident, Colombian President Gustavo Petro slammed political delays that have prevented the modernisation of the country’s military. Colombia began buying C-130 planes as far back as the 1960s.

“The modernisation of the military forces’ armament has been a decision of my presidency for years. Bureaucratic difficulties in the military administration have not allowed the Conpes/confis to be carried out since a year ago when I requested it,” Mr Petro said. 

He added “If civilian or military administrative officials are not up to this challenge, they must be removed. Military purchases must expand national agriculture and industry to the maximum.”