Small plane crashes in Colombia, killing 15 including Congressman

The Beechcraft 1900 aircraft crashed in the mountainous Norte de Santander province, near the border with Venezuela.

29 Jan 2026 10:41am
The domestic flight operated by state-owned airline Satena was travelling from Cúcuta to Ocaña when it lost contact with air traffic control just minutes after take-off. (Photo by Jure Makovec / AFP) - Photo for illustration purpose only
The domestic flight operated by state-owned airline Satena was travelling from Cúcuta to Ocaña when it lost contact with air traffic control just minutes after take-off. (Photo by Jure Makovec / AFP) - Photo for illustration purpose only

RIO DE JANEIRO - Fifteen people, including a member of the Colombian Congress, were killed when a small plane crashed in the country's north-east, authorities said on Wednesday, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

The domestic flight operated by state-owned airline Satena was travelling from Cúcuta to Ocaña when it lost contact with air traffic control just minutes after take-off.

The Beechcraft 1900 aircraft crashed in the mountainous Norte de Santander province, near the border with Venezuela.

"Today the country is in mourning," Colombian Transport Minister María Fernanda Rojas said after Satena confirmed the deaths of all 13 passengers and two crew members.

Colombia's Civil Aeronautics was set to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Among the victims was Colombian lawmaker Diógenes Quintero of the Partido de la U party.

Quintero was a well-known local representative in the conflict-hit Catatumbo region in the north-east of the country, though he was not a leading figure in national politics. - BERNAMA-dpa

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