SATENA Beechcraft Plane Crashes in Norte de Santander Mountains, 15 Killed
en01.web.id – Colombia.
A SATENA-operated Beechcraft 1900D aircraft crashed in the mountainous area of Curasica, La Playa de Belén, in Colombia’s Norte de Santander province, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, killing all 15 people on board, Colombian authorities said.
The aircraft, operating as SATENA flight NSE 8849, took off on January 28, 2026, from Camilo Daza International Airport in Cúcuta at approximately 11:45 a.m. local time, bound for the city of Ocaña, a short domestic route in northern Colombia.
According to Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil), the aircraft lost radio contact at around 11:54 a.m. local time on January 28, 2026, just minutes after departure.
“The aircraft stopped responding to air traffic control communications shortly after takeoff, and emergency protocols were immediately activated,” Aerocivil Director General Sergio París Mendoza said in an official statement issued later that day.
Following the loss of contact on January 28, 2026, Colombian authorities launched a search and rescue operation involving the Air Force, National Police, and local emergency units. Search efforts were complicated by steep terrain and low visibility caused by cloud cover in the mountainous region.
Several hours later, on the afternoon of January 28, 2026, rescue teams located the wreckage of the aircraft in a remote mountainous area near Curasica, La Playa de Belén, dozens of kilometers from Cúcuta. Authorities confirmed that all 13 passengers and two crew members were found dead at the crash site, with no survivors.
SATENA President Major General Óscar Zuluaga Castaño confirmed the fatalities on January 28, 2026, and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
“With deep sorrow, we confirm that there were no survivors. SATENA is fully cooperating with authorities and supporting the families affected by this tragedy,” Zuluaga said during a press briefing.
Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority announced on January 28, 2026, that a formal investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators are examining the aircraft’s technical condition, operational data, flight communications, and weather conditions in Norte de Santander at the time of the incident.
Meanwhile, Colombia’s Minister of Transport William Camargo Triana stated on January 28, 2026, that there was no immediate indication of external interference.
“At this stage, there is no evidence pointing to external factors. The investigation is focused on technical and operational elements,” he said.
The SATENA crash, which occurred on January 28, 2026, is among the deadliest aviation accidents in Colombia in early 2026, once again underscoring the risks faced by domestic flights operating through mountainous regions with volatile weather and challenging navigation conditions.
Tim Redaksi
(rd/ks/jk)