Plane Crash in Colombia Kills 15, Including Lawmaker

Bogotá: A small plane crash in northeastern Colombia has claimed the lives of all 15 people on board, including a sitting lawmaker, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The flight was operated by the state-run airline, Satena.

The accident occurred in a rural area of Norte de Santander province. According to Satena, local authorities in the Curásica region reported the crash site, prompting a rescue team to be dispatched to assess the situation.

Among the victims were two crew members and 13 passengers, including Congressman Diógenes Quintero. The Colombian Ministry of Transport later confirmed that no survivors were found at the crash site.

The aircraft, registered HK4709, had departed from Cúcuta Airport at 11:42 AM local time, bound for Ocaña, a city surrounded by mountainous terrain. The flight was typically scheduled to last around 40 minutes. According to Satena, contact with air traffic control was lost just minutes after takeoff.

The tragedy has plunged the nation into mourning, while questions have been raised about the safety protocols of Colombian aircraft. The government has launched an official investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Authorities have increased safety vigilance across the country, and the investigation report is expected to reveal the reasons behind the fatal accident.