A Colombian state-operated aircraft has crashed in a remote mountainous region near the Venezuelan border, killing all fifteen people on board including a prominent politician and a congressional candidate. The Beechcraft 1900, operated by the state-owned airline Satena, vanished from radar just twelve minutes into a scheduled forty-minute domestic flight.
Flight Details and Immediate Aftermath
Flight HK-4709 departed from Cúcuta at 11:42 AM local time on Wednesday, bound for the city of Ocaña. The short journey was scheduled to conclude at Aguas Claras Airport by 12:05 PM. However, air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft approximately twelve minutes after takeoff. According to preliminary flight data reported by officials, the plane experienced a sudden and significant drop in altitude roughly eleven minutes before its scheduled arrival.
Satena, the airline, later confirmed on social media platform X that the aircraft had 'suffered a fatal accident.' In an official statement, the carrier expressed its 'most sincere condolences with profound sorrow and deepest solidarity to the families of our passengers and crew.' The airline also revealed a critical detail: the aircraft's emergency locator beacon was not activated following the loss of contact.
Victims and Political Mourning
The crash claimed the lives of all thirteen passengers and two crew members. Among the victims was Diógenes Quintero, a serving member of Colombia's House of Representatives. Also killed was Carlos Salcedo Salaza, who was a candidate for congress. The political party of Diógenes Quintero released a statement expressing 'deep dismay at this painful loss, which not only plunges our party into mourning but also the country.' The statement praised Quintero as 'a leader committed to his region, with a firm vocation for service and a profound sense of public responsibility.'
The full list of those who perished has been released. The passengers were identified as:
- María Álvarez Barbosa
- Carlos Salcedo
- Rolando Penaloza Gualdron
- María Díaz Rodríguez
- Maira Avendano Rincon
- Anayisel Quintero
- Karen Parales Vera
- Anirley Julio Osorio
- Gineth Rincon
- Diogenes Quintero Amaya
- Natalia Acosta Salcedo
- Maira Sánchez Criado
- Juan Pacheco Mejía
The two crew members who lost their lives were Captain Miguel Vanegas and Captain Jose de la Cruz.
Search, Recovery, and Challenging Terrain
Following the disappearance, a major search operation was launched involving the Colombian Aerospace Force, the National Army, and the charter company Searca. Aerial searches focused on the Catatumbo region, where the plane's last known signal originated, and along its planned flight path. The government established a Power Management Unit (PMU) to coordinate the efforts.
The crash site was ultimately located in a rural area of Curásica, near the border with Venezuela. The president of the local Community Action Board reported the discovery to authorities just before 5:30 PM, confirming there were no survivors. The area is described as a remote, mountainous jungle notorious for dense vegetation, limited visibility, and challenging weather conditions. The region has also been experiencing weeks of heavy rain, complicating access and recovery efforts.
Crash Site and Ongoing Investigation
Images released by local media showed the extensive wreckage of the aircraft, with significant fuselage damage. Other photographs depicted bystanders assisting medical crews in recovering victims, personal belongings piled at the site, and armed guards overseeing the transportation of remains. Members of Quintero’s campaign team were also photographed at the scene, visibly grieving.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with no official determination yet released. Satena has pledged to make all its resources available 'for humanitarian assistance to their families and to clarify what happened.' The area where the plane went down is not only geographically treacherous but is also known to be a region with a presence of illegal armed groups and coca cultivation, adding layers of complexity to the recovery and investigation processes.
Satena is a key airline for government officials and tourists in Colombia, connecting the capital with small regional airports across the nation's thirty-two states. This tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the country's political and aviation communities.
