A Colombian lawmaker, Diogenes Quintero, and 14 other passengers have died following a plane crash in a mountainous area near the Venezuelan border.
The twin-propeller aircraft, which was carrying 15 people, crashed on January 28 while en route between two cities in Colombia’s northeastern region.
The plane reportedly departed from the border city of Cúcuta but lost contact with air traffic control shortly before it was scheduled to land in the town of Ocaña at about 5:00 p.m. GMT.
An official of the country’s aviation authority confirmed the incident, stating that there were no survivors.
It was learnt that the aircraft was conveying 13 passengers and two crew members at the time of the crash.
The Cúcuta axis is known for its rugged terrain, unpredictable weather and security challenges, with parts of the area under the influence of armed groups such as the National Liberation Army.
Following the crash, the Colombian government deployed the Air Force to locate the wreckage and recover the bodies of the victims.
Reacting to the incident, a local lawmaker, Wilmer Carrillo, said Quintero, alongside Carlos Salcedo and their aides, were travelling together when the accident occurred.
Quintero was a member of Colombia’s Chamber of Deputies, while Salcedo was a candidate in the forthcoming elections, adding to the country’s history of fatal air crashes involving prominent figures.