A small aircraft crashed on Wednesday in a remote area of Norte de Santander province in north-east Colombia, resulting in the tragic loss of all 15 individuals aboard, including a member of parliament, as confirmed by authorities.
The state-run airline, Satena, revealed that community members in Curasica provided information on the crash site, prompting a rapid deployment of a rescue team to evaluate the passengers’ condition.
Subsequently, Colombia’s Transportation Ministry announced that upon locating the aircraft, it was sadly determined that there were no survivors.
The flight, operated by Satena, departed at 11:42 a.m. local time from Cucuta Airport en route to Ocana, a town surrounded by mountains, with an average flight duration of 40 minutes.
Although the cause of the crash remains unknown, the last communication between the aircraft and air traffic control occurred shortly after takeoff, according to Satena’s statement.
While no specific reason was given for the incident, authorities assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted.
The plane carried a total of 15 individuals, including two crew members and Diogènes Quintero, 36, a member of the House of Representatives representing Catatumbo. Quintero, a prominent human rights advocate in the volatile border area with Venezuela, was a native of the region where the tragedy occurred.
Quintero, a lawyer by profession, was elected in 2022 as one of the 16 representatives in the lower chamber to advocate for over nine million victims of Colombia’s prolonged armed conflict, in line with the historic 2016 peace accord between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla group.
Expressing grief over Quintero’s untimely death, the U Party described him as a dedicated leader with a strong commitment to serving his community.
In response to the devastating event, Colombian President Gustavo Petro conveyed his deep sorrow through social media, offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishing them eternal peace.
