Satena, the state-run airline of Colombia, deeply regrets to confirm that one of its aircraft, a Beechcraft 1900 operating as Flight NSE 8849, was involved in a fatal accident on Wednesday afternoon in a mountainous region near the Venezuelan border.
The airline confirms there were no survivors among the 15 individuals on board, which included 13 passengers and two crew members.
🚨🇨🇴 A Satena Airlines Beechcraft 1900D crashed today in Catatumbo, Colombia. All 15 onboard — 13 passengers, 2 crew died, including Congressman Diogenes Quintero and candidate Carlos Salcedo. President Petro offered condolences and vowed an investigation. ✈️💔@AirNavRadar pic.twitter.com/Ei4XP90LYg
— Runway Report | Aviation News (@Runway_Report12) January 28, 2026
Incident Details
Flight NSE 8849 departed from Cúcuta with a scheduled arrival in Ocaña. Air Traffic Control lost contact with the aircraft at 11:54 local time (16:54 GMT), approximately 11 minutes before its scheduled landing at 12:05. The wreckage has since been located in a rugged, mountainous area of the Norte de Santander department.
Search and Recovery Operations
A multi-agency search and recovery operation, supported by the Colombian Armed Forces, was launched immediately following the disappearance. Governor William Villamizar has confirmed that seven bodies have been recovered thus far. Recovery efforts are ongoing despite the challenging terrain and the presence of non-state armed groups in the vicinity.
UPDATE: Satena Flight 8849 crashed near Cucuta, Colombia with 15 people on board. Wreckage found. Currently no sign of survivors. pic.twitter.com/U2QOmx7Ywo
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) January 28, 2026
Victim Identification
The official passenger manifest includes prominent public figures, including:
- Diógenes Quintero Amaya: Member of the House of Representatives, holding a seat dedicated to the victims of Colombia’s internal conflict.
- Carlos Salcedo: A candidate in the upcoming congressional elections.
Official Statements
President Gustavo Petro expressed his condolences via social media, stating: “I am deeply sorry for these deaths,” and extended his support to the families of the victims.
A spokesperson for Satena stated: “The Satena family is devastated by this loss. Our primary focus at this time is providing support to the families of those on board and cooperating fully with aviation authorities to determine the cause of this tragedy.”
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Support for Families
Satena has established a dedicated emergency hotline for the relatives of the passengers and crew. Information regarding the recovery process and grief support services will be provided through this channel.
Further details regarding the cause of the accident will be released as the official investigation by the Civil Aeronautics Authority (Aeronáutica Civil) progresses.
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