A smiling selfie taken moments before takeoff has become the haunting final image of a Colombian plane crash that killed all 15 people on board.
In the photo, passenger Gineth Tatiana Rincón Sanjuán is relaxed in her seat as fellow passengers prepare to depart.
Sitting by the window, she was seen smiling calmly into her phone as she snapped a quick selfie – minutes before the plane plummeted from the sky.
The Beechcraft 1900, operated by state-owned airline Satena, took off at 11:42 a.m. Wednesday from Camilo Daza International Airport to Aguas Claras Airport.
A short home hop normally takes around 25 minutes.
Just 11 minutes before landing, air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft.
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15 people, including a politician, died in the horror plane crash
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All 13 passengers and two crew members were later confirmed dead.
After a search by the Colombian Air Force and the National Army, the wreckage was found in a remote, mountainous area near Colombia’s border with Venezuela.
Among the victims were Colombian congressman Diógenes Quintero Amaya and congressional candidate Carlos Salcedo.
In parliament, Diogenes represented the victims of Colombia’s long-running conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and was remembered as “a man who served his entire life to those who needed it most”.
Former Ocaña councilor Juan David Pacheco and his partner María Sánchez were also killed, along with neurosurgeon Dr. Roland Enrique Peñaloza and his wife María del Carmen Díaz.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on X: “I am deeply sorry for these deaths.”
Satena later released the full casualty list and confirmed that the crew included pilot Miguel Vanegas and co-pilot José de la Vega.
It comes as authorities continue to piece together the final moments of the doomed flight, which vanished into thin air shortly after takeoff.
The plane was flying on the Cúcuta-Ocaña route when communication was lost about 12 minutes after takeoff.
Satina told X that the plane “suffered a fatal accident resulting in 15 deaths.”
“We extend our sincere condolences with deep sorrow and deepest solidarity to the families of our passengers and crew members who lost their lives in the accident,” the airline said.
“We will also make all our resources available for humanitarian assistance to their families and to clarify what happened.”
The government carrier said the plane’s emergency beacon was not activated and did not speculate on the cause.
Flight data placed the plane’s last recorded position over the Catatumbo area, a rugged region of dense jungle and mountains known for difficult terrain.
Local officials in Curasica, Playa de Belén, alerted authorities to the crash site and allowed rescue teams to enter the area.
Transport Minister Mafe Rojas said officials were “gathering information about the loss of communication” with the plane.
The Civil Aviation Authority said the plane was manufactured in 1995, had about 32,000 flight hours and had valid licenses at the time of the crash.
His engines had 28,000 and 31,000 hours.
The investigation into what caused the crash is ongoing.
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