On January 8, 2025, a Cessna 402C operated by Pacífica de Aviación, carrying ten people on a domestic flight from Juradó Airport to Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, Colombia, crashed, killing all eight passengers and two crew members on board. The aircraft crashed into a wooded mountainside and was found by a helicopter the next day.[1]
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a Cessna 402C, a twin-engine light aircraft designed for regional air travel.[citation needed] Registered as HK-2522, it was operated by Pacífica de Aviación, a regional airline based at Olaya Herrera Airport.[citation needed]
Accident
The flight departed from Juradó on January 8, 2025, bound for Medellín's Olaya Herrera Airport, with two pilots and eight passengers. At approximately 5:43 PM local time, air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft between the towns of Urrao and Betulia. The aircraft was reported missing after failing to arrive at its scheduled time.[2][3]
Search and rescue operations were quickly initiated, but were delayed due to the darkness and adverse weather conditions, leading to a suspension of efforts overnight. The following morning, signals from the aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) helped narrow the search area to approximately 40 square kilometres (15 sq mi). In the afternoon, a search helicopter located the wreckage in a densely forested, mountainous region within the jurisdiction of Urrao, Antioquia.[3][4][5][6]
There were no survivors among the ten people onboard. The challenging terrain and poor weather conditions complicated both the search efforts and the subsequent recovery operations.[5][6]
Investigation
The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) launched an investigation into the accident. The Accident Investigation Directorate is leading the inquiry to determine the causes of the crash. Investigators are expected to examine factors such as weather conditions, aircraft maintenance records, pilot experience, and flight data to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the tragedy.[3] No preliminary findings have been released, and the investigation is ongoing.
Authorities have emphasized the complexity of the investigation due to the difficult-to-access crash site and the need for meticulous analysis of the recovered evidence.[4]
Aftermath
In the wake of the accident, recovery teams comprising personnel from Aerocivil, the Colombian Air Force, and local authorities worked to retrieve the victims' bodies and secure the crash site. The operation was complicated by the remote location and challenging environmental conditions.[7][4] On January 12, authorities announced they had recovered all 10 bodies from the crash site.[8]
Pacífica de Aviación expressed condolences to the families of the victims and pledged full cooperation with the investigative authorities. The airline also initiated internal reviews to assess safety protocols and support mechanisms for the affected families.[3][5]
Reactions
The Governor of Antioquia Department, Andrés Rendón, expressed sadness over the tragedy, saying "All of Antioquia shares in the grief of their families; we stand with them and hope that God grants them peace in this difficult time." He also noted the mobilization of all available resources in the hope of finding survivors.[3]
Following the crash, the Governor of Chocó Department, Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi, declared a state of mourning.[8]
The broader aviation community in Colombia has been affected by the accident, prompting discussions on enhancing safety measures for regional flights, particularly those operating in challenging terrains and variable weather conditions. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to conducting a thorough investigation to prevent future occurrences.[4][3][2]
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