One Leasing

The single engine aircraft departed Bogotá on a flight to Larandia AFB where it was refueled. On board were one passenger and two pilots who were taking part to an anti-narcotic program on behalf of the US and Colombian Governments. The aircraft departed Larandia AFB at 1906LT on a reconnaissance flight to find three Americans who were taken hostage by FARC rebels after the crash of a first Cessna 208 operated by One Leasing last February 13. About 14 minutes into the flight, while cruising by night at an altitude of 4,500 feet in limited visibility, the aircraft struck a tree and crashed, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found on the slope of Mt La Sonora and all three occupants were killed.

The single engine aircraft was completing a survey flight over the Florencia area on behalf of the US Government, carrying four US citizens and one Colombian taking part to an anti-narcotic program. Eight minutes prior to its arrival in Floriencia, while cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed on the slope of a mountain located near El Para, bursting into flames. All five occupants survived the accident but when FARC soldiers arrived on the scene, they shot down both pilots and captured all three other occupants. The bodies of both pilots were repatriated to the US few days later while the three hostages were released more than five years later in July 2008.