On January 28, 2026, a small plane crash in northeastern Colombia resulted in the deaths of all 15 people on board, among them a congressman known for his human rights advocacy in the country’s contentious border region with Venezuela.
The aircraft, managed by SEARCA for the state-run airline Satena, departed at 11:42 a.m. local time from the Cúcuta airport, the capital of Norte de Santander province, on a flight to Ocaña, a municipality nestled in the mountains. Usually, this flight lasts around 40 minutes.
Satena disclosed in an official statement that the last communication with the plane was shortly after take-off. Residents in Curasica spotted the crash and alerted authorities, which led to a rescue team being dispatched to the site.
The Colombian Transportation Ministry later confirmed that “once the aircraft was located at the site, authorities sadly verified there were no survivors.”
The Beechcraft 1900, a small plane with the registration number HK4709, was transporting two crew members and 13 passengers when it crashed in a hilly rural area. Diógenes Quintero, 36, a House of Representatives member representing the Catatumbo region, was among the casualties. So were Carlos Salcedo, a community leader campaigning for a Congressional seat in the upcoming March elections, and Natalia Acosta, part of Quintero’s team.
While the cause of the crash has not yet been provided, an official investigation has been promised. The plane’s emergency beacon was not activated, further deepening the enigma surrounding the crash in the rugged terrain near the Venezuelan border.
Quintero was an acclaimed human rights advocate, born and raised in the unstable Catatumbo region, the same area where the plane crashed. As a lawyer, he was elected in 2022 as one of the 16 representatives of the lower chamber serving the nine million victims of Colombia’s prolonged armed conflict.
The seats Quintero occupied were created as part of a 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the country’s largest guerrilla group, the FARC. These dedicated congressional positions were established to give a voice to communities that suffered disproportionately during the conflict. The creation of these seats was a historic commitment to victims’ rights and political participation in the Colombian democratic process.
The Catatumbo region, where Quintero worked, is one of Colombia’s most challenging areas. Located near the Venezuelan border, in a mountainous zone, the region is known for its coca leaf cultivation, the primary ingredient for cocaine. The area remains disputed by illegal armed factions, including the National Liberation Army and dissident groups that rejected the 2016 peace agreement. In such regions, human rights advocates are under constant threat from multiple armed groups jostling for territorial control.
Quintero’s party, the U Party, expressed sorrow at his passing, describing him as “a leader committed to his region.”
President Gustavo Petro of Colombia expressed his grief over the incident via social media: “I am deeply saddened by these deaths. My heartfelt condolences to their families. May they rest in peace.” Vice President Francia Marquez also extended her condolences to the bereaved families.
The crash site’s location in hilly rural terrain complicated the initial rescue and investigation efforts. Norte de Santander province is known for its steep mountains and limited road access, making it challenging for emergency responders to quickly reach remote crash sites. These geographical hurdles are common in the Andean regions of Colombia, where small aircraft provide vital transportation links for communities without adequate road infrastructure.
The death of Salcedo, who was campaigning for Congress, comes just weeks before Colombia’s congressional elections in March. His death, along with Quintero’s, signifies a significant loss to political representation in a region historically plagued with violence and limited access to government services.
Aviation safety investigators will now examine the wreckage to determine what caused the aircraft to lose contact with air traffic control shortly after takeoff. The absence of an activated emergency beacon suggests a sudden incident, leaving the crew without time to signal distress. Weather conditions, mechanical failure, and pilot error will all be considered as potential factors in the investigation.
