A Colombian soldier sustained severe injuries after stepping on a landmine in a remote jungle region along the Panama border. A joint rescue operation involving Colombian and Panamanian forces successfully evacuated the wounded soldier by helicopter on Wednesday. He was transported to a specialized medical clinic for emergency treatment.
The incident occurred in the dense frontier zone of the Chocó department, an area known for its difficult terrain and persistent security challenges. Military officials reported that the soldier was on a routine patrol when an Anti-personnel mine detonated. His colleagues provided immediate first aid at the scene, stabilizing him for the complex evacuation that would follow.
Binational Coordination for Critical Evacuation
Responding to the emergency, the Colombian Aerospace Force activated its aeromedical rescue capabilities. A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter configured for medical missions, often called an “Angel” configuration, launched from Rionegro. Its destination was the Binational Military Base in Guamal, a strategic location for cross-border security cooperation.
Colombian Army personnel and members of Panama’s National Border Service (Senafront) worked together to secure the landing zone and transfer the injured soldier to the waiting aircraft. This seamless coordination between the two nations was crucial for a swift evacuation from the isolated location.
The soldier was handed over by the Colombian Army and Senafront and taken to the Panamericana Clinic in the department of Antioquia. [Translated from Spanish]
Following the initial airlift, medical teams decided the soldier’s injuries required a higher level of care. The helicopter performed an Aeromedical evacuation to the Clínica Panamericana, a facility equipped to handle complex trauma cases. He remains under specialized medical care as he recovers from the blast.
En un helicóptero “Ángel” de la #FuerzaAeroespacial🇨🇴 se efectuó la evacuación aeromédica de un soldado herido, desde zona fronteriza con #Panamá, en coordinación con el #CENRP, @COL_EJERCITO y @senafrontpanama.
👉🏻https://t.co/Ije10GxELC#ProtegemosLaVida… pic.twitter.com/PhQ24JenBf
— Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana (@FuerzaAereaCol) November 26, 2025
Landmines Pose Persistent Threat in Frontier Regions
This rescue highlights a grim and ongoing reality for both military personnel and civilians in Colombia’s border regions. The Combat Air Command No. 5 (CACOM-5), the unit that conducted this mission, provided sobering statistics. Their crews have performed 214 aeromedical evacuations within their jurisdiction so far this year.
A significant number of these missions, 22 to be exact, were directly related to incidents involving anti-personnel mines. These devices continue to inflict casualties long after conflicts have subsided, creating a lingering humanitarian crisis. Indigenous communities and other civilians living in these areas face the same daily dangers.
In what has gone of the year the unit has carried out 214 aeromedical evacuations in its jurisdiction, 22 of them related to incidents with anti-personnel mines that primarily affect military personnel, but also civilians and indigenous communities. [Translated from Spanish]
The Colombian Aerospace Force reiterated its commitment to providing a timely response in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Their ability to deploy aircraft like the Black Hawk for medical missions often represents the only hope for individuals injured far from conventional medical facilities. This mission, while successful, serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that persist in the Colombian countryside and the critical role of military medical evacuation teams.