What happened
A scheduled commercial flight departed from Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport at 08:20 local time, bound for Valledupar. The aircraft, a three-engine airplane, was operating with a crew of two and carrying 16 passengers.
Approximately thirty minutes after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a loss of power in its right engine. Due to this mechanical failure, the flight crew was unable to sustain the required altitude. In an effort to manage the emergency, the crew executed an unplanned landing by ditching the plane in the shallow waters of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta lagoon.
Despite the impact with the water, all 18 occupants managed to evacuate the aircraft without sustaining any injuries. While there were no casualties, the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the incident determined that the primary factor was the failure of the right engine, though the specific underlying reason for the power loss remained unidentified.