15 Killed, Including a Member of Parliament, in Colombian Plane Crash; Aircraft Crashed Just Before Landing

Washington: The wreckage of a Beechcraft 1900 aircraft, which had been missing since Wednesday, has been found by Colombian authorities. According to local media and rescue teams, there were no survivors in the crash. The plane was carrying 13 passengers and two crew members, including a member of the Colombian Parliament (Chamber of Deputies) and a candidate in the upcoming elections.

The commercial jet, carrying 15 people, went missing near the border between Colombia and Venezuela. According to Colombian aviation authorities and the state-owned airline SATENA, the last radar contact with the aircraft was recorded over the Catatumbo region, after which a search operation was launched.

Flight NSE 8849 departed from Cucuta at 11:42 AM on Wednesday, but contact was lost just 11 minutes before its scheduled landing. The wreckage was found in the remote and mountainous Catatumbo region. This area is known for its harsh weather and rugged terrain, which significantly hampered the search efforts.

Investigators from the Colombian Civil Aviation Agency are now examining the wreckage to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, no official information regarding a technical malfunction or adverse weather conditions has been released yet.

The Colombian Aerospace Force and the Accident Investigation Directorate of the Civil Aviation Authority immediately activated search and rescue protocols. A special helpline number (601) 919 3333 has also been issued to assist the families of the victims. No further details about the aircraft have been released so far.

It is reported that a member of parliament and an election candidate were among those on board. Local congressman Wilmer Carrillo said, “We received the news of this plane crash with great concern, as my colleagues Diogenes Quintero, Carlos Salcedo, and their teams were traveling on board.” Diogenes Quintero was a member of the Colombian Chamber of Deputies, while Carlos Salcedo was a candidate in the upcoming elections.