Colombia: A passenger aircraft operated by Colombia’s state-run airline Satena has crashed in the country’s north, killing all 15 people aboard, authorities confirmed.
In a brief statement, Satena said its Beechcraft 1900 aircraft had suffered a fatal accident while operating Flight NSE 8849. The wreckage has since been located in a mountainous area of Norte de Santander department, near the border with Venezuela.
The flight was en route from the city of Cúcuta to Ocaña when contact was lost just 11 minutes before its scheduled landing at 12:05 local time (17:05 GMT). The aircraft was carrying 13 passengers and two crew members.
Among those on board were lawmaker Diógenes Quintero Amaya and Carlos Salcedo, a candidate in the upcoming congressional elections, according to the official passenger list released by the airline.
Search and recovery operations were launched shortly after the plane went missing. Speaking to local media, Norte de Santander Governor William Villamizar said that at least seven bodies had been recovered so far. A hotline has also been established to assist relatives of the victims.
Colombia’s armed forces are supporting rescue teams in the rugged terrain where the aircraft went down. The region includes areas influenced by the ELN guerrilla group, which has complicated access for emergency crews.
President Gustavo Petro expressed condolences to the families of the victims in a message posted on X, writing that, “I am deeply sorry for these deaths.”
A message shared on Quintero’s official Facebook page confirmed his death, describing him as ‘a man who throughout his life served those who needed it most.’ Quintero held one of the 16 special parliamentary seats reserved for victims of Colombia’s long-running internal conflict.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash, and an investigation is expected to begin once recovery efforts are complete.
MOST READ | UPS to cut up to 30,000 jobs as it scales back Amazon deliveries
