A small state-operated passenger plane crashed on Wednesday in a remote part of Norte de Santander in northeastern Colombia, killing all 15 people aboard, including a sitting member of Congress. Authorities confirmed there were no survivors after locating the wreckage in the rural community of Curasica.

The aircraft, operated by Colombia’s state-owned airline Satena, disappeared from radar shortly after departing the city of Cúcuta on a short domestic flight bound for the mountain-ringed municipality of Ocaña. Rescue teams were dispatched once local officials reported the location of the downed aircraft.

Colombia’s Ministry of Transport later announced: “once the aircraft was located on site, authorities regrettably confirmed that there were no survivors.”

President Gustavo Petro expressed his sorrow in a message posted online, stating: “I am deeply saddened by these deaths. My heartfelt condolences to their families. May they rest in peace.”

Flight lost minutes after take-off

The Beechcraft 1900, registered as HK4709 and identified by Satena as Flight NSE 8849, departed Cúcuta at 11.42 a.m. local time and was scheduled to land around 12.05 p.m. The crew made its final radio contact at 11.54 a.m., only minutes before the aircraft vanished while flying over a region where several illegal armed groups operate.

Authorities said the aircraft carried 13 passengers and two crew members. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and aviation officials have launched an investigation. 

Lawmakers among the victims

Among those on board was 36-year-old Diógenes Quintero, a representative for the Catatumbo region and a prominent human rights advocate. Quintero, a lawyer, was elected in 2022 to one of the 16 special congressional seats created for victims of Colombia’s decades-long armed conflict under the 2016 peace accord with the FARC.

His political party, the U Party, issued a message mourning his death, saying he was “a leader committed to his region, with a firm vocation for service.”

Representatives for Quintero also shared: “We are praying for our friends right now.”

Also killed was Carlos Salcedo, a social leader and congressional candidate in the upcoming March elections.

Rapid search effort in mountainous terrain

The disappearance triggered a large-scale search coordinated by aviation authorities and military units. Officials in Norte de Santander confirmed the crash after more than an hour of scouring the rugged border area near Venezuela, according to local reports.

Satena said the airline was alerted to the likely crash site by residents of Curasica and dispatched response teams to “assess the condition of the passengers.” Transport Minister Maria Fernanda Rojas announced that all relevant emergency protocols had been activated, adding that updates would follow as information became available.

(With inputs from AP)