A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday when a small aircraft crashed in a remote area of Norte de Santander province in northeast Colombia, claiming the lives of all 15 individuals onboard, including a member of the congress, as confirmed by authorities.
The state-owned airline, Satena, which operated the ill-fated flight, was alerted by the community of Curasica regarding the crash site. A rescue team was promptly dispatched to the location to assess the situation of the passengers.
Following the discovery of the aircraft, Colombia’s Transportation Ministry issued a statement confirming the devastating news that there were no survivors among those onboard. The plane had departed from Cucuta airport and was en route to Ocana, a mountainous municipality, with a typical flight duration of about 40 minutes.
Although the cause of the crash remains unknown, the last communication with air traffic control was shortly after takeoff, according to Satena’s official statement. Authorities have announced that an investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
Among the 13 passengers and two crew members onboard the small plane was Diogènes Quintero, a 36-year-old member of the House of Representatives representing Catatumbo. Quintero, a prominent human rights advocate in the volatile border region shared with Venezuela, tragically lost his life in the crash.
Elected in 2022, Quintero served as one of the 16 representatives in the lower chamber, advocating for over nine million victims of Colombia’s prolonged armed conflict as part of the historic 2016 peace agreement between the government and the FARC guerrilla group.
Expressing deep sorrow over the loss, Quintero’s U Party issued a statement honoring his dedication and service to the region. Colombian President Gustavo Petro also extended his condolences, stating on social media, “I am deeply saddened by these deaths. My heartfelt condolences to their families. May they rest in peace.”