A Colombian plane carrying 15 people disappeared near the Venezuelan border
Colombian authorities and the state-owned airline Satina announced that contact had been lost with a small plane carrying 15 people, including prominent political figures, while it was flying near the troubled border region between Colombia and Venezuela, triggering a security and air alert in the area.
Details of the missing trip
Official reports indicate that the twin-engine Beechcraft 1900 aircraft, operated by the private charter company Ciarca, took off from the strategic border city of Cúcuta. It was scheduled to land in the nearby city of Okania at 12:50 PM local time, but lost contact with air traffic control minutes before its expected landing, prompting the immediate activation of search and rescue protocols.
Political figures on board the plane
Local sources confirmed that the passenger list included public figures, adding a political dimension to the incident. According to local council member Wilmer Carrillo, the plane was carrying Colombian congressman Diogenes Quintero, as well as Carlos Salcedo, a candidate in the upcoming elections, along with their staff and a two-person flight crew. Carrillo urged everyone to remain calm while awaiting official statements, expressing his deep concern over the incident.
complex geographical and security context
This incident is particularly sensitive given the nature of the region where the plane was lost. Geographically, the area is characterized by rugged mountainous terrain in the Andes Mountains, and is known for its extreme weather conditions, which often pose a significant challenge to air navigation, especially for small and medium-sized aircraft.
From a security standpoint, the border region between Colombia and Venezuela, specifically the Catatumbo area in Norte de Santander department, is one of the most complex. The National Liberation Army (ELN), the largest remaining rebel group in the country after the peace agreement with the FARC, is active in this vast area. The presence of these armed groups in the region could complicate ground search and rescue operations should the need arise.
A history of aerial challenges
It is worth noting that air travel in remote and border regions of Colombia plays a vital role in connecting cities that are difficult to reach by land due to terrain or security conditions. The state-owned airline Satina often operates flights to these areas as part of its social responsibility to integrate isolated regions. However, climatic and geographical challenges remain a constant concern for the aviation sector in this part of Latin America.
