After a small plane crashed in rural Norte de Santander in northeast Colombia, authorities confirmed that all 15 people on board died, including Diógenes Quintero, a member of the House of Representatives, and Carlos Salcedo, a social leader running for Congress.
Satena, the state-owned airline that operated the flight, said local officials in the community of Curasica notified authorities about where the plane had gone down and that a rescue team was deployed to “assess the condition of the passengers.” Later, Colombia’s Transportation Ministry said that once the aircraft was located on site, authorities “regrettably confirmed that there were no survivors.”
The crash occurred on Wednesday in the rural area of Norte de Santander province. Satena said the aircraft had a registration number of HK4709 and that it left Cúcuta, the department’s capital, at 11:42 a.m. local time, heading to Ocaña, a municipality surrounded by mountains. Satena said the flight typically lasts about 40 minutes, and that the plane’s final contact with air traffic control came minutes after takeoff.
Satena said the plane had two crew members and 13 passengers. Among the victims, the airline identified Quintero as a representative for Catatumbo. Satena described Quintero, 36, as a renowned human rights defender from the border region with Venezuela, where the accident occurred, and said he was a lawyer who was elected in 2022 as one of 16 representatives in Colombia’s lower chamber created as part of the 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC.
The airline also identified Carlos Salcedo as among those who died, saying he was a social leader running for Congress. Quintero’s party, the U Party, expressed “remorse” for his death and said he was “a leader committed to his region, with a firm vocation for service.”
Colombia’s Transportation Ministry did not provide a cause for the crash, but said there would be an investigation. President Gustavo Petro said via social media, “I am deeply saddened by these deaths. My heartfelt condolences to their families. May they rest in peace.”