A tragic incident occurred in the rural area of Norte de Santander province in northeast Colombia on Wednesday, resulting in the fatal crash of a small plane that claimed the lives of all 15 individuals on board, including a member of congress, as confirmed by authorities.
Satena, the state-owned airline responsible for the flight, received information from the Curasica community regarding the location of the crash. Subsequently, a rescue team was dispatched to evaluate the condition of the passengers.
Following the discovery of the aircraft, Colombia’s Transportation Ministry issued a statement confirming the unfortunate news that there were no survivors. The flight, operated by Satena, departed from Cucuta airport at 11:42 a.m. local time, en route to the mountainous municipality of Ocana, with an average flight duration of approximately 40 minutes.
While the cause of the crash remains unknown, the last communication between the aircraft and air traffic control occurred shortly after takeoff, according to Satena. Authorities have announced plans for an investigation into the incident.
The small plane carried a total of 15 people, including two crew members and Diogènes Quintero, a 36-year-old member of the House of Representatives for Catatumbo. Quintero, a respected human rights advocate in the troubled border region with Venezuela, was both a native of the area and a victim of the tragic accident.
An attorney by trade, Quintero was elected in 2022 as one of the 16 representatives in the lower chamber tasked with representing over nine million victims of Colombia’s prolonged armed conflict. These positions were established as part of a significant 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla group.
The U Party, to which Quintero belonged, expressed sorrow over his loss in an official statement, highlighting his dedication to serving his region. Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed his condolences on social media, stating, “I am deeply saddened by these deaths. My heartfelt condolences to their families. May they rest in peace.”