Colombian authorities have confirmed that all 15 people aboard a small passenger aircraft that crashed in the northeast of the country have died, with no survivors found, following the discovery of the wreckage on Wednesday.
The Beechcraft 1900 twin-propeller aircraft was operating a domestic flight from Cúcuta to Ocaña in the Norte de Santander region when it lost contact with air traffic control shortly after departure, state-owned airline Satena and aviation officials said.
The flight, designated NSE 8849, took off at approximately 11:42 a.m. and was expected to land around 12:05 p.m., but communication was last recorded at around 11:54 a.m. before the aircraft disappeared from radar.
Authorities located the wreckage in a remote, mountainous area near Curasica, Playa de Belén. After reaching the site, Colombia’s transport ministry confirmed that “there were no survivors” among the 13 passengers and two crew members aboard the flight.
Among the victims were Colombian lawmaker Diógenes Quintero, 36, a representative in the House of Representatives and advocate for victims of the country’s decades-long internal conflict, and Carlos Salcedo, a candidate in the upcoming March congressional elections. Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Colombian civil aviation authorities, in coordination with the Air Force and accident investigation teams, have launched a formal inquiry to determine the factors behind the tragic incident.
The region where the plane went down is known for its challenging terrain, unpredictable weather and ongoing security concerns due to the presence of armed groups, complicating both travel and rescue operations in the area.
