The Colombian Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics (Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronáutica Civil) has announced the discovery of the missing Cessna 206 aircraft, registration HK 2803, after over 370 hours of continuous search operations.
The aircraft, which disappeared on May 1st, 2023, while en route from Araracuara to San José del Guaviare, was found on May 15th, 2023.
Aircraft Found, But Occupants Missing
According to the Unified Command Post, one of the seven occupants was found deceased inside the aircraft. However, the other six occupants, including four minors, remain missing. The aircraft was located in the rural area of Palma Rosa, in the Solano municipality, Caqueta department.
Special forces units of the Military Forces, the Colombian Air Force, the Civil Defense, the National Fire Department, the Colombian Red Cross, and members of the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC) are currently conducting search and rescue operations for the remaining occupants.
A National Effort
The release stresses that all organizations participating in the search and rescue operations are directing all efforts to find the remaining occupants. The national government expresses solidarity with the families of the aircraft occupants, the indigenous communities, and Avianline Charter‘s during this difficult time.
The statement recognizes the active participation of the indigenous communities in the search operations. The Civil Aeronautics extends its gratitude to the Search and Rescue Service (SAR), the elite team of the Military Forces, the Colombian Air Force, the National Center for Person Recovery, the National Fire Department, the Civil Defense, the Colombian Red Cross, and OPIAC «for their tireless efforts» during the 16-day aerial, terrestrial, and fluvial search.
Investigation Underway
An expert team from the Directorate of Accident Investigation of Civil Aeronautics (DIACC) will now assume investigations to determine the causes of the accident.
