In a tragic event that unfolded on Wednesday in the rural reaches of Norte de Santander province, northeast Colombia, a small plane tragically crashed, leading to the death of all 15 people aboard. The ill-fated flight had a notable passenger manifest, including a sitting member of Colombia’s House of Representatives, underscoring the gravity of the incident for the region’s political landscape.
Operated by Satena, the state-owned airline, the aircraft's disappearance was first reported by local authorities from the community of Curasica, who promptly alerted relevant officials. In response, a rescue team was dispatched with orders to evaluate the status of those on the plane. Colombian Transportation Ministry officials later released a formal statement confirming that once the plane was located, it was with profound regret that they acknowledged there were no survivors among the passengers and crew.
The flight, identified by its registration HK4709, departed at 11:42 a.m. local time from the airport in Cúcuta, capital of the department. It was en route to Ocaña, a mountainous municipality situated within the region. This route is typically a brief journey, lasting approximately 40 minutes under normal circumstances.
According to Satena’s official release, contact with the aircraft was last established several minutes after takeoff, after which communication ceased abruptly. Although the precise cause of the accident has not been determined, authorities have affirmed that a formal investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances that led to this fatal crash.
The aircraft was carrying a total of 15 individuals: 13 passengers including prominent political figures, and two crew members. Among the victims was Diógenes Quintero, aged 36, who served as a representative in Colombia’s House for the Catatumbo region. Additionally, Carlos Salcedo, a social leader actively campaigning for a congressional seat, was also among those killed.
Quintero was widely recognized for his dedication to human rights advocacy in the volatile border area adjacent to Venezuela, which is the same region where the crash occurred. Professionally a lawyer, he was elected in 2022 to one of 16 designated seats in the country's lower legislative chamber created to represent over 9 million victims of Colombia’s prolonged armed conflict. These seats resulted from Colombia's 2016 peace accord with the FARC guerrilla organization.
His political party, known as the U Party, expressed sorrow and grief over his unexpected death, describing Quintero as a committed regional leader with a strong service orientation. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro addressed the tragedy through social media, extending his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wishing peace upon the deceased souls.