15, including lawmaker, killed in plane crash in Colombia

A twin-propeller plane crashed in the mountainous region near Colombia’s border with Venezuela on Wednesday (January 28), killing all 15 people on board, including a lawmaker, reports AFP.

The flight, operated by state-owned airline Satena, departed from the border city of Cúcuta with 13 passengers and two crew members. Contact with air traffic control was lost shortly before the aircraft was scheduled to land in Ocaña.

Among the dead were 36-year-old Chamber of Deputies member Diogenes Quintero and Carlos Salcedo, a candidate in the upcoming elections. Quintero’s party described him as a dedicated leader committed to his supporters.

Seven bodies have been recovered so far, according to William Villamizar Laguado, governor of Norte de Santander.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed condolences to the families of the victims.