Background and Relevance of the Passengers
A commercial plane carrying 15 people, including a member of the Colombian House of Representatives, disappeared in Colombia near the border with Venezuela, according to state airline Satena on Wednesday.
The aircraft, with 13 passengers and two crew members, took off from the border town of Cúcuta and was en route to the nearby municipality of Ocaña, a journey of approximately 23 minutes. However, it lost contact with air traffic control shortly before its intended landing.
The incident occurred in a mountainous region with highly variable weather conditions, where vast areas are under the control of the guerrilla group Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN).
Details of the Incident
According to Satena’s statement, the plane was expected to land around 17:05 GMT in the nearby municipality of Ocaña. Security and tracking protocols have been activated, as per aviation authorities.
The last known location of the aircraft was in a mountainous area in the Norte de Santander region, situated between 1,000 and 1,300 meters above sea level, according to Flight Radar.
Identified Passengers
Congressman Wilmer Carrillo reported that the plane carried a candidate for the Chamber of Deputies and a congressman with a “curul de paz,” a special position created by the 2016 Peace Agreement with the FARC to ensure parliamentary representation for conflict victims.
“I learned about this with concern,” Carrillo said on Twitter. “My colleague, Congressman Diógenes Quintero, and candidate Carlos Salcedo, along with their respective teams, were on board,” he added.
Response from the Aviation Company
The Associated Press (AFP) contacted Searca, the company operating the plane, but they declined to comment on the disappearance.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft is a Beechcraft 1900, an American model capable of reaching a maximum speed of approximately 440 kilometers per hour.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who were the passengers on board? The plane carried 13 passengers and two crew members, including Congressman Diógenes Quintero (curul de paz) and candidate Carlos Salcedo for the Chamber of Deputies.
- What is the significance of the curul de paz? The curul de paz is a special parliamentary seat created by the 2016 Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and FARC to ensure representation for victims of the conflict.
- What is the current status of the investigation? Security and tracking protocols have been activated, but no further updates have been provided by aviation authorities or the airline.
- What type of aircraft was involved in the incident? The aircraft is a Beechcraft 1900, an American model with a maximum speed of around 440 kilometers per hour.
