Colombian authorities are racing to locate a small Cessna T206 aircraft, registration HK4985, that disappeared with five people on board during a flight between the town of Condoto, in the northwestern department of Chocó, and Guaymaral Airport near Bogotá.
Contact with the crew was lost mid-flight, and the country’s Civil Aviation Authority (Aeronáutica Civil) confirmed that the plane briefly transmitted a signal from its emergency locator transmitter—a device designed to activate automatically and help rescuers pinpoint a downed aircraft’s location.
Search teams have concentrated their efforts in a rural area near the municipality of Tadó, also in Chocó, a mountainous and heavily forested region known for its dense jungle terrain, which can make aerial searches especially challenging. The governor of Chocó confirmed that the Colombian Army has deployed a helicopter to assist ground crews scouring the area.
Officials have not yet released further details about the identities of those aboard or the circumstances that led to the loss of contact. The operation remains active as rescue teams continue combing the region for any sign of the missing plane or its passengers.
For the latest updates on the search efforts, you can read the full original report at El Tiempo.
Source: Última comunicación y señal que emitió avioneta desaparecida con 5 personas a bordo: 'Radiobaliza de emergencia' (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Gnangarra.