No survivors in Colombian plane crash with a legislator and 14 aboard
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Jan 29, 2026, 21:43 IST
A plane belonging to Colombia’s national carrier went down just after leaving the ground in Norte de Santander, officials said. Everyone aboard, fifteen individuals, died in the incident. Among them was Representative Diógenes Quintero. The event unfolded under observation of local authorities.
TL;DR
Aircraft operated by Satena fell during transit between Cúcuta and Ocaña midweek, carrying fifteen individuals. Following verification by authorities, it became clear none survived the impact. Among those lost was a member of Congress representing Colombia.
Wednesday brought confirmation from Colombian officials: none survived. A small plane fell soon after lifting off in Norte de Santander. Fifteen lives ended midflight, among them, a congressperson on active duty. The region, northeast by location, saw the full toll unfold rapidly. Details emerged slowly, yet one fact stood clear from the start. There would be no recovery of those aboard. While investigations begin, silence replaces what was once flight.
Halfway between Cúcuta’s Camilo Daza Airport and Ocaña, signals stopped coming from a Satena-operated plane. Thirteen people were seated behind the cockpit, two staff handled controls at the front. Details like these emerged through announcements made by national civil aviation officials. Clear skies greeted the takeoff, then silence replaced telemetry data without warning. Despite routine monitoring procedures, contact was not reestablished following disappearance from radar systems serving regional airspace.
Minutes after leaving, contact with the aircraft ended abruptly. According to María Fernanda Rojas, head of transportation, signals were lost shortly beyond departure. Departure time stood at 11:42 a.m. Eastern Time, confirmed by Satena. Scheduled arrival approached noon, set near 12:05 p.m. Communication ceased permanently at 11:54 a.m., well before expected landing. Tracking records from FlightAware indicate telemetry vanished roughly nine minutes post-takeoff.
Later, rescue personnel found the debris scattered across farmland near La Playa de Belén after searches from above joined forces with those moving through the terrain. Though several planes participated alongside emergency crews, authorities held back early reports about atmospheric factors or equipment failure. Into the present, inquiry continues without confirmed conclusions regarding why the accident unfolded as it did.
One among those affected was Representative Diógenes Quintero, verified by the party responsible for his nomination. His role within Colombia’s legislative body began in 2022, holding a seat designated for a unique peace-focused district. Such positions emerged following the 2016 accord linking the state and the group referred to as FARC. Representation through these roles aims at including voices shaped by prolonged violence.
Communication from Quintero’s team noted disappearance of contact with him along with his assistant just ahead of departure. Their phones showed Camilo Daza Airport as final signal point prior to the flight, per details provided to CNN.
Colombia’s U Party, which supported Quintero’s candidacy, issued a statement honoring his public service. “Diógenes Quintero was a leader committed to his region, with a strong vocation for service and a deep sense of responsibility toward the public,” the party said.
News of the incident reached authorities swiftly. From regional hubs to federal offices, voices emerged in shared mourning. A message arrived from the administrative center of Norte de Santander. It carried recognition of deep loss. Grief was noted alongside awareness of magnitude.
“We deeply regret the loss of life caused by this aircraft accident in the rural area of La Playa de Belén,” the statement said. “Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and loved ones of those who died."
Officials from Satena alongside national aviation regulators confirm alignment with investigative procedures aimed at clarifying causes behind the accident. Progress reports may emerge during review of recorded cockpit inputs, service logs, along with weather patterns present at time of incident.
Aircraft operated by Satena fell during transit between Cúcuta and Ocaña midweek, carrying fifteen individuals. Following verification by authorities, it became clear none survived the impact. Among those lost was a member of Congress representing Colombia.
Wednesday brought confirmation from Colombian officials: none survived. A small plane fell soon after lifting off in Norte de Santander. Fifteen lives ended midflight, among them, a congressperson on active duty. The region, northeast by location, saw the full toll unfold rapidly. Details emerged slowly, yet one fact stood clear from the start. There would be no recovery of those aboard. While investigations begin, silence replaces what was once flight.
Halfway between Cúcuta’s Camilo Daza Airport and Ocaña, signals stopped coming from a Satena-operated plane. Thirteen people were seated behind the cockpit, two staff handled controls at the front. Details like these emerged through announcements made by national civil aviation officials. Clear skies greeted the takeoff, then silence replaced telemetry data without warning. Despite routine monitoring procedures, contact was not reestablished following disappearance from radar systems serving regional airspace.
Minutes after leaving, contact with the aircraft ended abruptly. According to María Fernanda Rojas, head of transportation, signals were lost shortly beyond departure. Departure time stood at 11:42 a.m. Eastern Time, confirmed by Satena. Scheduled arrival approached noon, set near 12:05 p.m. Communication ceased permanently at 11:54 a.m., well before expected landing. Tracking records from FlightAware indicate telemetry vanished roughly nine minutes post-takeoff.
Later, rescue personnel found the debris scattered across farmland near La Playa de Belén after searches from above joined forces with those moving through the terrain. Though several planes participated alongside emergency crews, authorities held back early reports about atmospheric factors or equipment failure. Into the present, inquiry continues without confirmed conclusions regarding why the accident unfolded as it did.
One among those affected was Representative Diógenes Quintero, verified by the party responsible for his nomination. His role within Colombia’s legislative body began in 2022, holding a seat designated for a unique peace-focused district. Such positions emerged following the 2016 accord linking the state and the group referred to as FARC. Representation through these roles aims at including voices shaped by prolonged violence.
Communication from Quintero’s team noted disappearance of contact with him along with his assistant just ahead of departure. Their phones showed Camilo Daza Airport as final signal point prior to the flight, per details provided to CNN.
Colombia’s U Party, which supported Quintero’s candidacy, issued a statement honoring his public service. “Diógenes Quintero was a leader committed to his region, with a strong vocation for service and a deep sense of responsibility toward the public,” the party said.
News of the incident reached authorities swiftly. From regional hubs to federal offices, voices emerged in shared mourning. A message arrived from the administrative center of Norte de Santander. It carried recognition of deep loss. Grief was noted alongside awareness of magnitude.
“We deeply regret the loss of life caused by this aircraft accident in the rural area of La Playa de Belén,” the statement said. “Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and loved ones of those who died."
Officials from Satena alongside national aviation regulators confirm alignment with investigative procedures aimed at clarifying causes behind the accident. Progress reports may emerge during review of recorded cockpit inputs, service logs, along with weather patterns present at time of incident.