The incident that occurred in Norte de Santander left 15 people dead, including two political leaders from Catatumbo.
News Colombia.
On January 28, 2026, a small plane from the state airline Satena There was an accident in the department of Norte de Santander, leaving 15 people dead, including two figures on the national political scene. The accident occurred when the aircraft was covering the Cúcuta–Ocaña route, a journey during which communication was lost shortly before landing.
See: Satena reveals the list of the 13 passengers and 2 crew members who died in the accident of one of its small planes
Among the victims, the death of Diogenes Quintero Amayarepresentative to the Chamber for the Special District of Peace, and Carlos Salcedo, candidate for Congress. Both were traveling on the plane along with other passengers and crew members, with no survivors reported after the impact.
Diógenes Quintero Amaya, 36, was recognized for his work defending victims of the armed conflict and for representing communities historically affected by violence. His legislative work was focused on the implementation of the Peace Agreement and making the territory’s problems visible.
For his part, Carlos Salcedo aspired to a peace seat representing Catatumbo, one of the regions hardest hit by the armed conflict in Colombia. His candidacy was aimed at bringing the voices of rural communities to Congress and promoting development and reconciliation initiatives in the area.
The accident generated a strong reaction in different political and social sectors of the country, where messages of condolences and recognition of the work that both leaders carried out multiplied. The tragedy not only mourns their families, but also the communities that saw in them a direct representation of their struggles.
While the aeronautical authorities advance the investigation to clarify the causes of the accident, the country remains attentive to the official results. The tragedy leaves a profound impact on the process of political representation of the peace constituencies and reopens the debate on security conditions in air travel in remote regions.
List of the 15 fatal victims of the Satena airline flight
You may be interested in:
