A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday in a remote part of Norte de Santander province in northeast Colombia, resulting in the fatal crash of a small aircraft carrying 15 individuals, including a member of the congress, as confirmed by authorities.
The state-owned airline, Satena, which operated the ill-fated flight, was informed by the Curasica community about the crash site. Subsequently, a rescue team was dispatched to evaluate the situation of the passengers onboard.
After the aircraft was located, the Colombia Transportation Ministry issued a statement announcing the devastating news that there were no survivors among those aboard the flight. The plane had departed from Cucuta airport towards Ocana, a mountain-surrounded municipality, with a usual duration of approximately 40 minutes.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, with the final communication between the aircraft and air traffic control occurring shortly after takeoff, according to Satena’s released statement. Authorities have assured an investigation into the incident will be conducted.
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, known for his advocacy for human rights in the volatile border area with Venezuela, was tragically from the region where the crash took place.
A lawyer by trade, Quintero was elected in 2022 as one of the 16 representatives in the lower chamber tasked with representing over nine million victims of Colombia’s prolonged armed conflict, following the historic 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla group.
The U Party, to which Quintero belonged, expressed deep sorrow over his untimely death, highlighting his dedication to the region and service-oriented approach. Colombian President Gustavo Petro also expressed condolences via social media, mourning the loss and extending sympathies to the families of the deceased individuals.