Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo plane carrying newly printed Bolivian banknotes crashed Friday near the capital, leaving at least 15 people dead, injuring others and damaging numerous vehicles, officials said.

Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas said the aircraft skidded off the runway while landing at an airport in El Alto, a city next to La Paz, before coming to rest in a nearby field. Flames engulfed the plane but firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze.

Fire chief Pavel Tovar confirmed at least 15 fatalities but did not specify whether the victims were on board the aircraft or in vehicles traveling along the adjacent highway. Around 15 cars were reported damaged, with debris and bodies scattered across the roadway.

Bolivian Air Force Gen. Sergio Lora said the plane had six crew members and was arriving from Santa Cruz. By late Friday, two crew members remained unaccounted for.

The military aircraft was transporting currency to La Paz when the crash sent bills flying across the scene. Videos circulating online showed crowds attempting to gather the scattered money as police in riot gear tried to push them back. Tovar said the large number of people collecting cash complicated rescue operations.

Authorities deployed more than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers to secure the area. In the presence of Central Bank President David Espinoza, officials burned the cash containers, saying the banknotes had no legal value because they had not yet entered circulation. Espinoza did not disclose the amount being transported but noted the bills had recently arrived in Santa Cruz from abroad.

Flights to and from the airport were temporarily suspended as investigators worked to determine the cause of the crash.