A plane carrying more than a dozen passengers, including a Colombian congressman, has crashed in northeastern Colombia, prompting a large-scale search
operation by local authorities. The aircraft, operated by state airline Satena, lost communication during a flight between the municipalities of Cúcuta and Ocaña. According to official information, 13 passengers and two crew members were on board the flight. Radar data showed the aircraft’s final recorded position was between the municipalities of Hacarí and La Playa de Belén, within the Catatumbo region. Authorities from the Unified Command Post (PMU) later confirmed that the Satena aircraft crashed in the Curasica sector, a rural area of La Playa de Belén. Officials stated that there were no survivors. Among those on board were two political candidates: Diógenes Quintero, a member of the Colombian house of representatives, and Carlos Salcedo, a candidate for the Peace Seat. Video emerging from the crash site shows plane wreckage scattered across a rural area, with debris spread over difficult terrain.
JUST IN - Debris from a Colombian plane carrying 15 people, including a lawmaker, has been found; no survivors reported. pic.twitter.com/DX2YJFadYG
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) January 28, 2026
Satena said the flight, identified as NSE 8849, departed Cúcuta at approximately 11:42 a.m. and was scheduled to land in Ocaña around 12:05 p.m. The aircraft made its last contact with air traffic control at 11:54 a.m. on January 28, shortly before it was due to land.
The aircraft involved was a Beechcraft 1900, registration HK4709, operated by SEARCA. Initial reports described the plane as missing near Colombia’s border with Venezuela, but authorities later confirmed the crash after debris was located.
Search and recovery efforts remain ongoing as authorities continue to assess the scene and gather further details about the incident.
