A twin-engine airplane carrying 15 individuals, including a Colombian legislator, crashed on Wednesday in a mountainous area close to the Venezuelan border, leading to the fatalities of all passengers and crew members, as reported by authorities in Bogota.
Departing from the Colombian city of Cucuta near the border, the aircraft lost communication with air traffic control just before its scheduled landing in Ocana at noon (1700GMT).
The flight, operated by the Colombian state airline Satena, had 13 passengers and two crew members on board for a 23-minute journey. An official from the aviation authority stated to AFP that there were no survivors, and the cause of the accident remained unknown.
Following the crash, the government mobilized the Air Force for search operations in the region, characterized by its rugged terrain and unpredictable weather conditions within the Andes’ eastern range.
The area is known to be partially under the control of Colombia’s largest guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). Governor William Villamizar of North Santander confirmed that seven bodies have been retrieved so far.
A Colombian legislator and a candidate for the upcoming elections were among the victims. President Gustavo Petro expressed his condolences, stating, “I deeply regret these deaths. All my solidarity to their families.”
The casualties included Representative Diogenes Quintero, aged 36, a member of Colombia’s chamber of deputies, and Carlos Salcedo, a candidate for the upcoming elections. Quintero was praised by his party as “a dedicated leader to his community” and hailed from the conflict-ridden region of Catatumbo, known for coca cultivation and the presence of armed factions.
The ill-fated aircraft was identified as a Beechcraft 1900 twin-propeller plane. Colombia’s challenging terrain, consisting of dense jungles and snow-capped mountains, often necessitates air travel to connect various towns that would typically be linked by rail or road in less rugged countries.
