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.

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The South African National Defence Force (SANDF), through the Joint Operations Division deployed the South African Air Force (SAAF) to provide the rotary wing air support as part of Operation Chariot in Mozambique.

Mozambique is currently experiencing one of its worst flooding disasters triggered by heavy rains that began in mid-December 2025 and intensified around early January 2026.

Mozambique’s Southern and Central Provinces, such as Maputo, Gaza, Zambezia to name a few, have been amongst the hardest hit areas, destroying crops, causing severe damage to infrastructure and leaving thousands of families displaced.

SAAF Corporate Communication Officer, Major Lebogang Phakathi said the main mission of the SAAF is to conduct Search and Rescue (SAR) operations and provide humanitarian assistance in response to flood related disaster in the affected Southern and Central parts of Mozambique.

“On Tuesday, one Oryx, a medium-lift helicopter and two A109 Augusta light utility helicopters were deployed on an aerial reconnaissance mission to assess the extent of the damage and locate stranded civilians in the Palmeira area, in the Maputo Province.

“Despite adverse weather conditions, SA Air Force Aircrews executed successful rescue operations and managed to evacuate a total of 224 individuals from the flooded area to safety. This operation forms part of an ongoing disaster relief effort to support Mozambique during this humanitarian crisis,” said Phakathi.

He said the SAAF continued commitment and tireless efforts underscore South Africa’s enduring commitment to regional stability and cooperation under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) framework.

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Galaletsang Mokone (23) and Gontse Lee Matjila (21) were last seen on Sunday, 21 December 2025.

Their Hyundai i30, was found submerged in the river today, Tuesday, 23 December, following an extensive multi-agency search and recovery operation.

The operation involved SAPS Wierdabrug, the SAPS Water Wing and Dive Unit, Gauteng EMS Rescue Team, Tshwane Metro Police Department, Tshwane Emergency Services, Search and Rescue South Africa (SARZA), the Wierdabrug Community Policing Forum, and Emer-G-Med.

Authorities are currently managing the scene, while investigations continue. Official details surrounding the circumstances of the discovery will be released once all formal procedures have been completed.

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A major security operation involving the military, police, and community vigilantes is underway to locate the remaining 265 children and 12 teachers still missing. The search now stretches across forests and remote routes believed to have been used by the gunmen.

The attack prompted authorities in several states to order immediate school closures, including in Kebbi, Niger, Katsina, Yobe, and Kwara. This came after another incident in Kebbi earlier in the week, where 25 pupils were taken from a boarding school.

President Bola Tinubu has responded by authorizing the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and redeploying officers previously assigned to VIP protection back to core security duties, especially in areas vulnerable to attacks.

Families in Papiri village, where St Mary’s is located, say they feel abandoned as they wait for updates. Many expected a stronger security presence following the abduction, but residents say no additional forces have arrived.

The escape of the 50 children took place between Friday and Saturday and is being described as a courageous and risky effort to break free from their captors. The mass kidnapping is one of the largest in Nigeria’s history, surpassing even the Chibok school abduction of 2014.

Local officials say armed men entered the school around 2am on Friday. The Niger State governor ordered schools in the area to shut down, urging the public to remain focused on rescue efforts rather than blame.

Parents shared heartbreaking stories of fear and uncertainty. One mother said her nieces, aged six and 13, were among those taken, pleading for their safe return. Another parent whose children were spared described the attack as devastating for the entire community.

Authorities say St Mary’s School had been warned to close its boarding facilities due to intelligence reports of heightened risk. The school has yet to respond to those claims.

Elsewhere in Nigeria, similar incidents were reported last week. More than 20 girls were kidnapped from a school in Kebbi, and 14 farmers were taken in Borno, where one woman was later rescued. In Kwara State, 38 people abducted from a church service were freed, though two people were killed during the attack.

The rise in kidnappings has intensified national frustration. While some international voices have framed the violence as targeting Christians, Nigerian officials say the attackers pose a threat to everyone—Muslims, Christians, and those of no faith—emphasizing that the motives often involve criminal profit or local resource disputes rather than religion.

Nigeria continues to battle long-running insecurity, including attacks by armed groups in the north-east and communal clashes in central regions. The government maintains that it is working to restore safety across affected areas, but many families remain in anguish as the search for hundreds of children continues.

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The second pilot, whose aircraft went missing after a mayday call, was found early Thursday morning north of Boston in the Midlands. Provincial transport MEC Siboniso Duma confirmed the discovery, expressing condolences to both families and thanking the search teams for their efforts.

“Sadly, the second pilot suffered fatal injuries,” Duma said. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the two pilots. Recovery operations are currently under way.”

The first aircraft was located near Howick West on Wednesday evening, where the pilot was also declared dead at the scene. Both planes were flying from Johannesburg to Margate when they disappeared in heavy fog, which blanketed the region and likely contributed to the crash.

The Aeronautical Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, alongside the SAPS search and rescue unit, led the overnight operation that eventually located both wrecks.

Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crashes. The Department of Transport’s Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division will be working closely with aviation authorities to determine what went wrong.

MEC Duma also reaffirmed the province’s ongoing efforts to improve aviation safety and infrastructure at airports including Margate, Oribi, Umkhuze, Richards Bay, and Virginia.

The news has sent shockwaves through the aviation community and the Midlands region, as tributes pour in for the two experienced pilots who lost their lives.

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