Post by : Meena Ariff

A devastating plane crash in northeast Colombia on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of all 15 people on board, including a sitting lawmaker and a candidate contesting the upcoming congressional elections, officials confirmed.

The aircraft involved was a Beechcraft 1900 twin-engine turboprop that took off shortly before noon from the border city of Cucuta. It was en route to the nearby town of Ocana on what was expected to be a short domestic flight. However, air traffic control lost contact with the plane just 12 minutes after departure.

Authorities stated that the aircraft’s emergency locator beacon did not activate, and no distress signal or emergency call was received before communication was lost. The exact cause of the crash is still unknown, and an investigation is underway to determine what led to the incident.

Those killed included local lawmaker Diogenes Quintero, who was traveling with members of his political team. Also among the victims was Carlos Salcedo, a congressional candidate preparing for elections scheduled in March. The airline later released the official passenger list confirming their presence on the flight.

Images from the crash site circulated by local media showed severe destruction, with the aircraft’s fuselage appearing badly damaged and broken apart upon impact.

The crash occurred in a remote, mountainous region known for coca cultivation, the plant used to produce cocaine. The area is also known for the presence of illegal armed groups, which has historically complicated access and emergency response efforts.

Rescue and recovery teams were deployed to the site as authorities began operations to retrieve the victims and gather evidence to understand the circumstances behind the deadly crash.

#Global News