A small aircraft tragically crashed on Wednesday in a remote part of Norte de Santander province in northeastern Colombia, claiming the lives of all 15 individuals aboard, which included a congressman, as confirmed by authorities.

The state-owned airline, Satena, responsible for the flight, was alerted by Curasica community members regarding the crash site, prompting a rescue mission to evaluate the passengers’ condition.

The Transportation Ministry of Colombia later issued a statement revealing that upon locating the aircraft, authorities sadly confirmed no survivors.

Departing from Cucuta airport in the department and heading towards Ocana, a mountain-enclosed municipality, the flight initiated at 11:42 a.m. local time with an average travel duration of approximately 40 minutes.

Following takeoff, the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control, as outlined in a Satena press release. Although the cause of the crash remains unknown at this time, an investigation will be conducted.

The plane carried a total of 15 individuals, including two crew members and Diogènes Quintero, a 36-year-old member of the House of Representatives for Catatumbo. Quintero, a prominent human rights advocate from the border region with Venezuela, was onboard during the tragic incident.

Elected in 2022 to represent over nine million victims of Colombia’s prolonged armed conflict, Quintero, a lawyer, held a seat in the lower chamber as part of the 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC, the largest guerrilla group in the country.

Expressing grief over Quintero’s passing, the U Party, to which he belonged, described him as a dedicated regional leader with a strong commitment to public service. Colombian President Gustavo Petro also mourned the deaths on social media, extending condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing them peace.