A plane crash occurred on Wednesday in a remote area of Norte de Santander province in northeastern Colombia, resulting in the tragic death of all 15 individuals on board, including a member of the congress, as confirmed by authorities. Satena, the government-owned airline responsible for the flight, received notification from the Curasica community regarding the crash site, prompting a rescue team to be dispatched to evaluate the passengers’ condition.
Following the aircraft’s location, Colombia’s Transportation Ministry announced that all occupants had unfortunately perished. The flight departed from Cucuta airport at 11:42 a.m. local time en route to Ocana, a mountainous municipality, with an average flight duration of about 40 minutes.
The final communication between the plane and air traffic control occurred shortly after takeoff, according to a statement from Satena. Although the cause of the crash remains unknown, authorities have committed to conducting a thorough investigation.
The small plane carried 13 passengers, including Diogènes Quintero, 36, a member of the House of Representatives representing Catatumbo. Quintero, a prominent human rights advocate in the troubled Venezuelan border region where he resided and the accident transpired, was well-regarded.
An attorney by trade, Quintero was elected in 2022 as one of the 16 representatives in the lower chamber designated to advocate for the over nine million victims of Colombia’s prolonged armed conflict, following the 2016 peace accord between the government and the FARC guerrilla group. The U Party, to which Quintero belonged, expressed sorrow over his passing, lauding him as a dedicated regional leader with a profound commitment to public service.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro conveyed his deep sorrow via social media, extending condolences to the bereaved families and wishing peace for the departed souls.