A small passenger aircraft crashed on Wednesday near Colombia’s border with Venezuela, killing all 15 people on board, including a Colombian lawmaker and a congressional candidate, authorities confirmed.
The flight, Satena Flight 8895, was operated by Colombia’s state-owned airline Satena using a Beechcraft 1900D twin-propeller aircraft (registration HK-4709). It was en route from Camilo Daza International Airport in Cúcuta near the Venezuelan frontier to Aguas Claras Airport in Ocaña in Norte de Santander province.
Loss of Contact and Crash Site
The aircraft took off at approximately 11:42 a.m. local time and lost contact with air traffic control roughly 12 minutes later, shortly before its scheduled landing around midday.
Search teams later located the wreckage in the remote, mountainous area of Curasica in Playa de Belén, confirming that none of the 13 passengers and two crew members survived the crash.
Victims Include Lawmaker and Candidate
Among the deceased was Diógenes Quintero Amaya, a 36-year-old member of Colombia’s House of Representatives representing the Catatumbo region. He was elected under a special peace-process seat created for victims of the country’s decades-long armed conflict.
Also killed was Carlos Salcedo, a social leader and candidate in the upcoming congressional elections scheduled for March.
Local political parties and leaders have expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, highlighting Quintero’s regional service and community advocacy.
Challenging Terrain and Ongoing Investigation
The crash site lies in a rugged, jungle-covered region long known for its difficult terrain and limited access, complicating both rescue and investigative efforts.
Colombian authorities, including the Transport Ministry, Civil Aeronautics, and the Colombian Air Force, have deployed teams to the location and opened a formal investigation. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the crash, and the aircraft’s emergency beacon reportedly did not activate before impact.
President Gustavo Petro and other senior leaders offered condolences, underscoring the nation’s mourning and commitment to uncovering the circumstances behind the accident.
