An airplane with more than a dozen passengers, including a Colombian congressman, has disappeared. The Satena airline flight lost contact while traveling between Cúcuta and Ocaña in Colombia, causing concern among local authorities who have established a crisis response team.

A total of 13 passengers and two crew members were onboard the aircraft, with reports confirming that Diógenes Quintero, a member of the Colombian house of representatives, was among the passengers.

Mayor Emilio Cañizares Plata in Ocaña, together with Secretary of Government Hugo Guerrero and Airport Manager Albeiro Páez, are actively involved in the search and rescue operations.

Radar data indicates that the plane’s last known location was in the vicinity of Hacarí and La Playa de Belén, within the Catatumbo region. The flight was expected to land around noon local time.

Colombia’s Minister of Transport, Maria Fernanda Rojas, stated that the Accident Investigation Directorate is investigating the communication loss from flight HK4709, which was en route from Cúcuta to Ocaña. The cause of the incident is still unknown.

Following the event, Satena airline released a statement mentioning their mobilization of all available resources and collaboration with Colombian Aerospace Force Command and Control Centre, as well as the Civil Aeronautics Technical and Accident Investigation Directorate.

Flight NSE 8849, operating between Cúcuta and Ocaña, reported its last contact with air traffic control at 11:54 am today after taking off at approximately 11:42 am, with a scheduled landing time of 12:05 pm.