Colombian authorities confirmed that a small passenger aircraft crashed in the northeast of the country on Wednesday, killing all 15 people on board. Rescue teams located the wreckage hours after the plane disappeared from radar, according to the Air Force and local media.
The aircraft departed from the border city of Cúcuta and was heading to Ocaña. Air traffic controllers lost contact shortly before the plane was due to land. Officials said the flight was scheduled to arrive at 12:05 pm.
The plane carried 13 passengers and two crew members. Among those on board were a sitting lawmaker and a legislative candidate. Their presence heightened national concern as search efforts began.
Authorities said the crash occurred in a mountainous region near Colombia’s border with Venezuela. Weather conditions in the area often change rapidly, which can affect flight safety. Parts of the region also remain under the influence of armed groups, complicating access.
Small plane crash in Colombia kills all 15 passengers, including local lawmaker. https://t.co/kSppN2emKa
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 29, 2026Local lawmaker Wilmer Carrillo confirmed that Representative Diógenes Quintero and political candidate Carlos Salcedo were travelling on the flight. He said both were accompanied by members of their teams.
Carrillo urged calm and asked the public to wait for official statements from aviation and security authorities. He expressed concern for the families of those who lost their lives in the accident.
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The aircraft was identified as a Beechcraft 1900 twin-propeller plane. A private charter company operated the flight in accordance with approved aviation protocols.
Colombia’s civil aviation authority has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the crash. Emergency services continue recovery operations while officials work to notify families and verify the identities of victims.
