Colombia plane crash leaves 15 dead, politicians possibly among victims
Plane crashed near Venezuela (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
A plane carrying 15 people crashed in Colombia, killing everyone on board. Media reports indicate that among the victims were politicians - a legislator and a congressional candidate, reports Reuters.
According to the airline Satena, the Beechcraft 1900 departed from Cúcuta, near the Venezuelan border, en route to Ocaña. Contact with the aircraft was lost at 11:54 local time, about 11 minutes after takeoff.
The plane had 13 passengers and two crew members on board and was operating under contract for the state carrier Satena.
Authorities said that aviation units and military forces are involved in the search. The area where the plane is believed to have gone missing is mountainous and difficult to access, complicating the operation.
There is currently no information available on the aircraft's location or the condition of the passengers. Search efforts are ongoing.
Local media also reported that among the passengers may have been a Colombian legislator and a congressional candidate, though authorities had not confirmed this at the time of the Reuters report.
Previously, Colombia experienced a major air disaster in which more than 70 people died. The crash occurred near the airport of Medellín in the country’s northwest.
Additionally, a police helicopter crashed in northern Colombia, killing at least five people.
