Horrific plane crash: 15 people including a lawmaker killed, President expresses grief

Colombia (The Uttam Hindu): A tragic plane crash has shaken Colombia. According to officials, a small aircraft crashed on Wednesday in a rural area of Norte de Santander province in northeastern Colombia. All 15 people on board lost their lives in the accident, including a sitting member of Congress.

State-run airline Satena, which was operating the flight, said rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the crash site to assess the situation. Later, Colombia’s Ministry of Transport confirmed through an official statement that there were no survivors in the crash.

The aircraft, bearing registration number HK4709, took off from Cúcuta Airport at around 11:42 am local time and was headed to Ocaña, a mountainous city where the flight usually takes about 40 minutes. According to Satena, the last contact with air traffic control was made just minutes after takeoff. While the exact cause of the crash is still unknown, authorities have said a detailed investigation will be carried out.

As per the airline, the plane was carrying two crew members and 13 passengers. Among the passengers was 36-year-old Diogenes Quintero, a member of the House of Representatives from the Catatumbo region. Quintero was known as a prominent human rights defender in the conflict-affected border area near Venezuela. A lawyer by profession, he was elected in 2022 as one of 16 representatives chosen to speak for victims of Colombia’s decades-long armed conflict.

Political leaders across parties expressed deep sorrow over his death, remembering him as a dedicated leader with a strong sense of public service. Colombian President Gustavo Petro also condoled the tragedy through social media, stating, “These deaths deeply pain me. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. May God grant peace to their souls.”