In a tragic incident on Saturday, a private plane crash in central-eastern Colombia led to the death of six people, including renowned folk singer Yeison Jiménez. The accident occurred just hours before the 34-year-old artist was to perform a concert in Medellín.
The plane, bearing the registration number N325FA, crashed between the areas of Paipa and Duitama in the Boyacá department of Colombia around 4 p.m. local time, just after leaving a small airport. The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the crash and identified all six victims.
The fatalities include the plane’s pilot, Captain Hernando Torres, and passengers Juan Manuel Rodríguez, Óscar Marín, Jefferson Osorio, and Weisman Mora. Mora, a photographer, was part of Jiménez’s team and was traveling with the group to the concert when the accident occurred.
Videos made by Colombian media show the plane taking off, with voices shouting “the runway is run out” in the background. Subsequent footage reveals the burning wreckage of the plane, which caught fire upon impact.
In response to the tragic event, the Boyacá governor’s office announced a period of mourning throughout the department. Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Fernanda Rojas stated that the appropriate authorities have started to investigate the causes of the accident.
The Civil Aeronautics Authority expressed their regret over the accident in a statement. “The Civil Aeronautics Authority deeply regrets the accident that occurred in Paipa, Boyacá, in which six occupants of the N325FA aircraft died, including the artist Yeison Jiménez,” they declared.
The Technical Directorate for Accident Investigation of the Civil Aviation Authority is in the process of executing its protocol, which includes gathering evidence from the crash site. Detailed information about the incident has yet to be provided by the authorities.
In a disturbing revelation, Jiménez had told Caracol TV station in Colombia that he had dreamt about a plane crash three times. He recounted these dreams in interviews, revealing that he had envisioned his own death and subsequent news coverage on three separate occasions.
“I dreamt three times that we were going to have a plane crash and that I had to tell the pilot to turn around,” Jiménez had shared with the television station.
Jiménez had previously experienced an emergency landing with the same aircraft, just ten days prior to his son’s birth. This incident adds another tragic dimension to Saturday’s fatal crash.
During the earlier incident, Jiménez had noticed the plane shaking during takeoff, and his cameraman observed water leaking from the engine, indicating mechanical issues that necessitated an unplanned landing. Despite this, Jiménez continued to use the aircraft for his professional travels.
Mora, the photographer who also perished in Saturday’s crash, had posted a final video before takeoff, documenting moments with the team just prior to boarding the ill-fated flight. The video, shared on social media, displayed the group getting ready for their journey to Medellín, unaware of the impending disaster.
Jiménez had established himself as one of Colombia’s leading folk music artists, earning recognition across Latin America for his contributions to traditional Colombian music. His concerts attracted large audiences, and the Medellín performance was eagerly awaited by ticket holders.
The death of Jiménez is a considerable loss to the Colombian music scene, where folk traditions are an integral part of cultural identity. Musicians in these genres often travel extensively across the country, performing in cities and towns in various departments.
Given the mountainous terrain and limited road infrastructure between some cities, small aircraft are a common mode of transport for touring artists in Colombia. However, aviation accidents involving entertainment personalities have happened periodically over the years, raising concerns about flight safety.
The Technical Directorate’s investigation will look into several factors that could have contributed to the crash, including weather conditions, mechanical systems, pilot decisions, and the circumstances surrounding the takeoff. Witness accounts describing the runway situation are expected to form part of the investigation.
The investigation will also involve a thorough review of the aircraft’s registration records and maintenance histories. The previous emergency landing involving the same plane may be a focus, as investigators search for any recurring patterns or unresolved mechanical issues.
The crash’s impact has been compounded by the fact that all the victims were part of Jiménez’s professional team. This means that their families, friends, and colleagues now face multiple losses, both personal and professional.
The news of the crash spread rapidly on Saturday, with fans and fellow artists expressing their shock and sadness on social media. The news of the crash was especially devastating for those who had planned to see Jiménez perform that evening.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing as Colombian aviation authorities work to ascertain what caused the plane to crash shortly after takeoff. The findings will be presented in an official report that will detail all factors contributing to the accident that claimed six lives on January 11, 2026.