The state-owned Colombian airline Satena confirmed that commercial flight HK-4709 crashed after vanishing near the Colombian-Venezuelan border on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of all 15 individuals on board, including a Colombian politician.
According to the airline, the flight, which was traveling the Cúcuta-Ocaña route, took off at 11:42 a.m. local time and had an expected arrival time of around 12:05 p.m.
Its final communication with air traffic control occurred at 11:54 a.m., and its fuel supply would have been depleted by 2 p.m.
After authorities recognized the loss of contact, Satena reported that aircraft from the Air Force, National Army, and the charter flight company Searca began aerial search operations in the zones where the last known data from the aircraft was received.
The search also extended along the intended flight path of the missing aircraft.
Shortly before 5:30 p.m., Satena verified the plane had crashed with no survivors, based on information provided by the president of the Community Action Board in the Curásica rural district of La Playa de Belén municipality.
The two crew members were named as Capt. Miguel Vanegas and Capt. Jose de la Vega.
The 13 passengers were identified as: María Álvarez Barbosa; Carlos Salcedo; Rolando Penaloza Gualdron; María Díaz Rodríguez; Maira Avendano Rincon; Anayisel Quintero; Karen Parales Vera; Anirley Julio Osorio; Gineth Rincon; Diogenes Quintero Amaya; Natalia Acosta Salcedo; Maira Sánchez Criado; and Juan Pacheco Mejía.
A report from The City Paper Bogotá identified Diogenes Quintero Amaya as a member of Colombia’s House of Representatives. Carlos Salcedo was a candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives.
“Satena extends its most heartfelt condolences, with deep sadness and full solidarity, to the families of the passengers and crew members who died in this accident,” the airline stated.
Satena further committed to utilizing all available resources to offer support to the victims’ families and to “determine the circumstances surrounding the event.”
The airline is a major transport provider for government officials and tourists, linking the capital to small regional airports in the capitals of Colombia’s 32 departments.
The region where the plane vanished, close to the border with Venezuela, is recognized for its mountainous landscape and frequently poor visibility.
A local newspaper reported that heavy rains have persisted for weeks in the area between Cucuta and the Catatumbo region, which has also experienced recent violent incidents such as targeted killings, kidnappings, and the forced displacement of civilians.