January 29, 2026 | 02:45 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A plane with 15 people on board, including a Colombian lawmaker, crashed on Wednesday in a mountainous region near the Venezuelan border, killing all passengers and crew on board, according to authorities in Bogota.
Contact with aircraft lost minutes after takeoff
The plane, operated by Satena, the state-owned airline, took off from the Colombian border city of Cucuta and was en route to Ocana.
Colombia's presidency said in a statement that contact with the aircraft was lost shortly after takeoff.
There were two crew members and 13 passengers, including Columbian lawmaker, Diogenes Quintero, member of the House of Representatives for Catatumbo, the airline said.
A rescue team was sent to the crash site to "assess the condition of the passengers."
However, Colombia's Transportation Ministry later released a statement saying that "once the aircraft was located on site, authorities regrettably confirmed that there were no survivors."
Officials could not determine the cause of the crash, but said there would be an investigation.
Who was Diogenes Quintero?
Quintero, 36, was a member of the House of Representatives for Catatumbo, Satena said.
He was a well-known human rights activist in the troubled border region with Venezuela and was described by his party as "a leader committed to his community."
"I deeply regret these deaths," leftist President Gustavo Petro wrote on X. "All my solidarity to their families."
Read: Smart Air Plane Crashes in Waters off Nabire, All Passengers Safe
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Trump to Meet Colombian President at White House Amid Rising Tensions
21 hari lalu
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday it was a "great honor" to speak with his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro.
Countries Around the World Condemn US Attack on Venezuela
25 hari lalu
Countries around the world have condemned the United States' attack on Venezuela.
Trump Announces US Will Store Oil and Ships Seized from Venezuela
36 hari lalu
President Donald Trump asserts that the U.S. will maintain oil commodities and seize ships off the Venezuelan coast.
As COP 30 Ends, Environmentalists Applaud Colombia but Criticize Indonesia
23 November 2025
An article about the drama at COP 30 and the collective efforts to transition from fossil fuels, with Colombia and the Netherlands taking the initiative.
US Sanctions Colombian President, Citing Failure in Drug War
25 Oktober 2025
The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has been sanctioned by the U.S. for allegedly refusing to stop the flow of cocaine to the country.
Colombia Recalls Ambassador to the US Amid Rising Diplomatic Tension
21 Oktober 2025
Colombia announced the step after US President Donald Trump referred to President Gustavo Petro as an 'illegal drug leader'.
World Leaders Condemn Israel's Interception of Global Sumud Flotilla
3 Oktober 2025
At least 44 countries were represented in the 500-member Global Sumud Flotilla. They were intercepted by Israel as they near Gaza waters.
Colombia Produces First Domestic Rifle to Replace Israeli Arms
30 September 2025
Colombia has unveiled its first locally produced assault rifle, a lighter and cheaper model set to replace Israeli-supplied firearms.
More Than 140 Environmental Defenders Killed in 2024
17 September 2025
Latin America is the most dangerous region for environmental advocates, with many of the cases remaining unsolved, according to a new report.
Colombia: Truck Bomb, Helicopter Downing Kill at Least 17
22 Agustus 2025
Colombian authorities have blamed the two incidents on separate dissident factions of FARC, the disbanded leftist guerrilla group.
