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Fatal crash confirmed in northern Colombia
A state-run airline aircraft crashed in a mountainous region of northern Colombia on Wednesday, killing all 15 people on board, Satena confirmed in a statement.
Flight details and timeline
Satena's Beechcraft 1900, operating as Flight NSE 8849, departed from Cúcuta at 11:54 local time (16:54 GMT) and was scheduled to land in Ocaña, approximately 100 km (62 miles) away, at 12:05 (17:05 GMT). Contact with the plane was lost 11 minutes before its expected arrival.
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.
Search and recovery efforts
The wreckage was located in a rugged, mountainous area. A search operation, supported by Colombia's armed forces, is underway. Governor of Norte de Santander William Villamizar told local outlet Semana that seven bodies have been recovered so far.
The region where the plane disappeared includes areas controlled by the National Liberation Army (ELN), a guerrilla group active in Colombia.
Reactions and tributes
President Gustavo Petro expressed his condolences on X, writing, "I am deeply sorry for these deaths."
"A man who throughout his life served those who needed it most."
Statement from Diógenes Quintero Amaya's Facebook page
Quintero, who represented victims of Colombia's conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), held one of 16 dedicated seats in the country's parliament for conflict-affected communities.
Support for families
Satena has set up a hotline for relatives of those on board. The airline has not yet provided further details about the cause of the crash.
