Beechcraft 1900 operated by state airline Satena goes down in remote mountainous area of Norte de Santander shortly after takeoff

Tragedy unfolded in northeastern Colombia on Wednesday after a passenger aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 15 people on board, including a sitting lawmaker and a congressional candidate.

The Beechcraft 1900 aircraft, operated by Colombia’s state-owned airline Satena, departed from Cúcuta, near the Venezuelan border, en route to the city of Ocaña. According to aviation authorities, the plane lost contact with air traffic control approximately 12 minutes into the flight.

Following an intensive search, rescue teams located the wreckage in a remote and mountainous part of Norte de Santander State. Officials later confirmed that none of the occupants survived the crash. The victims included 13 passengers and two crew members.

Among those killed were Diógenes Quintero, a member of Colombia’s House of Representatives, and Carlos Salcedo, a political candidate preparing to contest upcoming elections. Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the country’s political and public spheres.

National and local authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the cause of the crash. While no official explanation has been released, officials noted that the rugged terrain and challenging weather conditions in the border region are complicating recovery operations and investigative efforts.

Further details are expected as investigators continue to assess flight data and debris from the crash site.

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