Small Plane Crashes in Norte de Santander, Killing 15 Including Lawmaker
Flight HK4709 crashed in the mountainous Curasica area after losing contact at 11:54 a.m., killing all 15 aboard, Satena and the Transportation Ministry said.
Overview
Satena confirmed Flight HK4709, a Beechcraft 1900 that departed Cúcuta at 11:42 a.m., crashed in the Curasica area of La Playa de Belén, Norte de Santander, killing all 15 people on board, officials said.
The aircraft's last contact with air traffic control came at 11:54 a.m. and it was scheduled to land in Ocaña at 12:05 p.m., according to statements from Satena and Colombia's Transportation Ministry.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted on X that he was 'deeply saddened' and offered condolences to the families, while Vice President Francia Márquez also expressed sympathy in a social media post, officials said.
The flight carried two crew members, Capt. Miguel Vanegas and Capt. Jose de la Vega, and 13 passengers including Representative Diogenes Quintero Amaya and congressional candidate Carlos Salcedo, Satena said.
Officials said they will open an investigation into the cause and that Satena will provide humanitarian assistance to victims' families as search and recovery operations proceed in mountainous, rain-affected terrain.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources are neutral in this coverage: they stick to verified facts, attribute the fatality to Satena’s statement, avoid speculative causation, note ELN presence only as geographical/contextual information, and report rescue efforts and a hotline. These choices minimize editorializing and present straightforward information for readers.
Sources (5)
FAQ
Satena Flight HK4709 (also referred to as 9R8895 or NSE 8849), a Beechcraft 1900D, departed Cúcuta at 11:42 a.m. on January 28, 2026, bound for Ocaña, with last contact at 11:54 a.m. It crashed in the mountainous Curasica area of La Playa de Belén, Norte de Santander.
The flight carried 13 passengers and 2 crew members: Captain Miguel Vanegas and Captain Jose de la Vega. Notable passengers included Representative Diogenes Quintero Amaya and congressional candidate Carlos Salcedo.
The aircraft was a 31-year-old Beechcraft 1900D, registration HK-4709, serial UE-140, first flown in February 1995, delivered new to Mesa Airlines, and operated by Satena since May 2010 via SEARCA.
President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Márquez expressed condolences on social media. Satena confirmed the crash, offered humanitarian assistance, and an investigation into the cause is underway amid challenging mountainous terrain.
The crash occurred in the Curasica area of La Playa de Belén, Norte de Santander, near the Venezuela border, a mountainous region with poor visibility, rain, and ELN guerrilla influence, complicating search and recovery.
History
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