A small passenger plane went down in a remote mountainous region of northern Colombia, tragically claiming the lives of everyone on board all 15 people, including crew and passengers.
The aircraft, a Beechcraft 1900 operated by the state airline Satena, took off from Cúcuta and was on a short domestic flight to Ocaña near the Venezuelan border. It disappeared from radar and lost contact with air traffic control just minutes after departure, around midday on Wednesday. Search teams, supported by the armed forces, scoured the rugged terrain home to challenging weather and areas influenced by armed groups like the ELN and eventually located the wreckage.
Among the victims were prominent figures: Diógenes Quintero Amaya, a dedicated lawmaker and human rights advocate who represented conflict victims in Colombia’s Congress, and Carlos Salcedo, a social leader campaigning for a congressional seat in upcoming elections. Tributes poured in, remembering Quintero as a lifelong servant to those affected by violence and displacement.
President Gustavo Petro expressed deep sorrow for the families, and a support hotline was quickly established to help relatives cope with the loss. Recovery efforts continue in the difficult landscape, as authorities begin investigating what led to this devastating accident.