Colombia’s national airline, Satena, announced on Wednesday that commercial flight HK-4709 tragically crashed after it went missing near the Colombia-Venezuela border. All 15 individuals on board, including a Colombian politician, lost their lives.
The Beechcraft 1900, operating on the Cucuta-Ocaña route, took off at 11:42 a.m. local time, aiming to land around 12:05 p.m. Unfortunately, the last communication with air traffic control was recorded at 11:54 a.m., and the aircraft’s fuel would have run out by 2 p.m.
Once authorities realized they had lost contact, aircraft from the Colombian Aerospace Forces and the national army, along with charter airline Ciarca, initiated an overflight operation in the last known area of the aircraft. They also searched along the planned route.
According to the chairman of the community action committee from the rural area of Curaçica in La Playa de Belem, the plane went down just before 5:30 p.m., confirming that there were no survivors. The two crew members were identified as Captain Miguel Banegas and Captain Jose de la Vega.
The passengers included Maria Álvarez Barbosa, Carlos Salcedo, Rolando Penalosa Galdron, Maria Diaz Rodríguez, and several others. Some reports indicate that Diogenes Quintero Amaya was a member of the Colombian House of Representatives, while Carlos Salcedo was a congressional candidate.
In a statement, Satena expressed deep condolences to the families affected by this tragedy, stating, “We share this moment of deep sadness and solidarity.” The airline also assured that it would provide humanitarian support to the victims’ families and work to uncover what led to this incident.
Satena is mainly used by government officials and tourists, connecting the capital with various regional airports throughout Colombia.
The crash site is in a region recognized for its challenging mountainous terrain and poor visibility, especially in recent weeks due to heavy rainfall. Local reports mention that the area has seen rising violence, including targeted killings and kidnappings.
