A heartbreaking last photo has emerged from inside the plane that plunged from the sky and killed all 15 people on board yesterday.
The crew onboard the Beechcraft 1900 aircraft lost contact just 11 minutes from their destination.
The plane took off at 11:42am yesterday (28 Jan) from Camilo Daza International Airport in Cúcuta, Colombia, bound for Aguas Claras Airport in Ocaña.
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The journey, operated by the country’s state-run airline Satena, normally takes around 25 minutes.
The wreckage was located in a mountainous area near the Venezuelan border and all 13 passengers and two crew members were confirmed dead.
The Colombian Air Force and National Army were involved in the search operation.
One passenger, Gineth Tatiana Rincón Sanjuán, smiled as she took a selfie on board, just before the plane took to the air.
The young woman appeared relaxed as other passengers prepared for take-off around her.
Other victims included Colombian MP Diógenes Quintero Amaya and Carlos Salcedo, a candidate in upcoming congressional elections, as reported by Need To Know.
In parliament, Diógenes represented victims of the conflict between the guerrilla army the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the Colombian state.
He was described as “a man who throughout his life served those who needed it most”.
Juan David Pacheco, former councilman for the municipality of Ocaña, and his partner María Sánchez, were also killed in the crash.
Neurosurgeon Dr. Rolando Enrique Peñaloza and his wife María del Carmen Díaz also passed away.
Colombian president Gustavo Petro said on X: “I am deeply sorry for these deaths.”
Satena provided a list of the victims’ names.
The crew members were identified as pilot Miguel Vanegas and co-pilot José de la Vega.
The passengers were Gineth Tatiana Rincón Sanjuán, Diógenes Quintero Amaya, Carlos Salcedo, Juan David Pacheco Mejía, Maira Sánchez Criado, Dr. Rolando Enrique Peñaloza, María del Carmen Díaz, Natalia Cristina Acosta Salcedo, María Torcoroma Álvarez Barbosa, Maira Avendaño Rincon, Anirley Julio Osorio, Karen Parales, and Ana Yisel Quintero.
The Civil Aeronautics Authority reported that the aircraft involved in the accident was manufactured in 1995, had approximately 32,000 flight hours, with its engines on 28,000 and 31,000 hours respectively, and had valid permits at the time of the accident.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
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