In a horrific aviation accident that occurred in Colombia on Wednesday, all 15 people on board, including a Member of Parliament, lost their lives. A commercial aircraft named Beechcraft 1900, flying from Cucuta to Ocaña, took off at 11.42 am but mysteriously went missing shortly after departure. Just 11 minutes before landing, the aircraft lost contact with radar. According to state airline SATENA, the plane’s last contact was recorded over the Catatumbo region, following which a large-scale search operation was launched.
After an intensive search, rescue teams discovered the wreckage in the extremely remote and mountainous terrain of Catatumbo. Local media and airline authorities confirmed that all 15 people on board — including 13 passengers and 2 crew members — were killed in the crash. Due to the rugged landscape and adverse weather conditions, rescue operations faced significant challenges.
Among the deceased were Diogenes Quintero, a member of Colombia’s Chamber of Deputies, and Carlos Salcedo, a candidate in the upcoming elections. Expressing deep grief over the incident, MP Wilmer Carrillo stated that his colleague Quintero and his team were traveling on the same flight. Investigators are currently examining the debris to determine whether the crash was caused by technical failure or adverse weather conditions.
Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority has formed a high-level investigation team to probe the cause of the accident. The government has also issued a special helpline number to assist the families of the deceased. At present, the Aerospace Force and civil aviation officials are collecting evidence at the crash site.
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