Plane Crash in Colombia Claims 15 Lives
A passenger plane crashed in a remote area of Colombia’s northern Norte de Santander province, killing all 15 people on board, including a sitting member of parliament.
The aircraft was carrying 13 passengers and two crew members. Rescue teams reached the crash site soon after the incident, but authorities confirmed that there were no survivors, according to Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority.
The flight was operated by the state-owned airline Stena. Flight HK 4709 had taken off from Cucuta and was heading to Ocala when the accident occurred. The plane departed at 11:42 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
Among the victims was Colombian Congress member Diogenes Quintero. He had served in the national parliament since 2022 and represented the Special Peace Electoral District, which speaks for communities affected by years of armed conflict.
Quintero’s office said contact with him and his assistant was lost shortly after the aircraft went missing. Mobile phone tracking showed their last known location at Camilo Daze Airport in Cucuta, just before departure.
The Norte de Santander Governor’s Office expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives
