A Colombian politician was among 13 passengers and two crew members that were killed in a fatal SATENA Beechcraft 1900D crash after losing contact with air traffic control.
On January 28, 2026, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro confirmed that shortly before midday the SATENA Beechcraft 1900D, registered HK-4709, suffered a loss of communication.
After a search was launched involving the Colombian Air Force and National Army, at around 16:10 traces of the aircraft were found in Curasica, within La Playa de Belén in the north of the country.
President Petro has ordered the Ministry of Transportation and the Civil Aeronautics Authority to conduct a thorough investigation into what caused the tragedy.
Among those who lost their lives was Diógenes Quintero, 36, a member of the House of Representatives for Catatumbo.
#ATENCIÓN. Se conocen las primeras imágenes del avión de Satena accidentado en zona rural del mpio/Hacarí, cuando cubría la ruta Cúcuta–Ocaña. La aeronave fue ubicada en un sector de difícil acceso, mientras organismos de socorro adelantan labores de verificación.
En desarrollo https://t.co/j8WHF4HU1I pic.twitter.com/sghI368oWG
— Colombia Oscura (@ColombiaOscura) January 28, 2026
On Facebook, President Petro, wrote: “I am deeply saddened by these deaths. My heartfelt condolences to their families. May they rest in peace.”
SATENA Beechcraft 1900D, operated by SEARCA, Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport (CUC) at 11:42 and was due to land at Ocaña-Aguas Claras Airport (OCV) at around 12:05.
Government officials said that search and rescue efforts in the area where the aircraft crashed were hampered due to weather conditions.
Flightradar24 said that the last received position from HK-4709 was 8.199758, -73.13736 at 16:54 UTC.
Oscar Zuluaga, President of SATENA, released a video statement following the discovery of the wreck and said that the airline’s “solidarity is with the families and loved ones”.
Separately, in a statement from SATENA said: “We extend our most sincere condolences with profound sorrow and our deepest solidarity to the families of our passengers and crew who lost their lives in the accident. We will make all our resources available for humanitarian assistance to the families and to clarify what happened.”
The Civil Aeronautics Authority will formally launch an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The immediate activation of technical investigation teams has been ordered to establish, with rigor and transparency, the causes of this regrettable accident, in accordance with national and international protocols,” said Director of Civil Aeronautics Authority, Luis Alfonso Martínez.
