A small aircraft operated by Colombia's state-owned airline Satena crashed Wednesday in a remote mountainous region near the Venezuelan border, killing all 15 people on board including a member of congress. The Transportation Ministry confirmed that rescue teams found no survivors after locating the wreckage in the community of Curasica in Norte de Santander province.
The aircraft, registered as HK4709, departed from Cúcuta airport at 11:42 a.m. local time bound for Ocaña, a mountainous municipality approximately 40 minutes away by air. Air traffic control sources reported that the plane's flight data showed a sudden altitude drop 11 minutes before its expected landing time. Contact with the aircraft was lost shortly thereafter as it flew over densely forested terrain.
Among the victims was Diógenes Quintero, a lawyer and human rights advocate who served as a congressional representative for victims of Colombia's internal armed conflict. Quintero was elected in 2022 as one of 16 special representatives in the lower chamber under provisions established by the 2016 peace agreement with FARC rebels. Also killed was Carlos Salcedo, a candidate running for a congressional seat in the upcoming March elections, along with members of Quintero's political team including Natalia Acosta.
President Gustavo Petro expressed his condolences through social media, stating that he was deeply saddened by the deaths and extending solidarity to the families of the victims. Vice President Francia Márquez also mourned the loss and offered heartfelt condolences. Transportation Minister María Fernanda Rojas declared that the country was in mourning and assured the public that investigation protocols had been activated.
The crash site is located in the Catatumbo region, an area known for hosting the world's largest coca cultivations and serving as an active conflict zone between armed groups. The remote and densely forested terrain significantly complicated search and rescue operations. Local officials suspected that adverse weather conditions may have played a role in the incident, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Satena, the airline operating the flight, is a state-run carrier that provides essential air connectivity to remote regions of Colombia where ground transportation is limited or dangerous. The airline has been a lifeline for communities in conflict-affected areas, though it has faced challenges operating in the country's difficult mountainous geography. Colombian aviation authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the circumstances that led to this tragic incident.
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