A Colombian passenger jet has crashed shortly after takeoff killing all 15 people onboard.
State-run airline Satena confirmed Flight HK-4709 crashed near the Colombia-Venezuela border after losing contact with air traffic control.
One of the 13 passengers was a Colombian member of Congress.
The Beechcraft plane was flying the short Cúcuta-Ocaña route.
It lost contact just 10 minutes after getting airborne.
After it became clear the plane was missing, authorities conducted an air search.
A few hours later, they received confirmation the plane had crashed with no survivors.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
“From Satena, we extend our most sincere condolences, with profound sorrow and full solidarity, to the families of our passengers and crew members who lost their lives,” the airline said, adding it hopes to ‘clarify the circumstances of what occurred.’
The plane went down in mountainous terrain known for poor visibility at low altitudes.
