Plane crash in Colombia close to Venezuelan border leaves 15 useless, together with congressman | EUROtoday

A small plane crash in a rural space of Colombia’s Norte de Santander province on Wednesday claimed the lives of all 15 folks on board, together with a member of congress, authorities stated.

The state-owned airline, Satena, which operated the flight, confirmed that native officers in the neighborhood of Curasica had been the primary to inform authorities of the crash web site.

A rescue group was promptly dispatched to “assess the condition of the passengers.” However, Colombia’s Transportation Ministry later issued an announcement confirming the tragic final result: “once the aircraft was located on site, authorities regrettably confirmed that there were no survivors.”

The plane, registered as HK4709, had departed at 11:42 a.m. native time from Cúcuta, the departmental capital, en path to Ocaña, a municipality nestled amongst mountains. The flight usually lasts roughly 40 minutes.

The plane’s remaining contact with air site visitors management got here minutes after takeoff, in keeping with an announcement launched by Satena.

Officials didn’t present a trigger for the crash, however stated there can be an investigation.

The small aircraft was carrying two crew members and 13 passengers, together with Diógenes Quintero, 36, a member of the House of Representatives for Catatumbo, the airline stated. Carlos Salcedo, a social chief who was working for Congress, was additionally among the many victims.

Quintero was a famend human rights defender within the troubled border area with Venezuela, the place he was from and the place the accident occurred.

A lawyer by occupation, he was elected in 2022 as one in all 16 representatives within the decrease chamber to symbolize the greater than 9 million victims of Colombia’s decades-long armed battle. The seats had been created as a part of a landmark 2016 peace settlement between the Colombian authorities and the nation’s largest guerrilla group often known as the FARC.

His get together, the U Party, expressed their regret for his dying and stated he was “a leader committed to his region, with a firm vocation for service.”

Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated by way of social media: “I am deeply saddened by these deaths. My heartfelt condolences to their families. May they rest in peace.”