🚨 DEVASTATING PLANE CRASH HORROR IN COLOMBIA: Popular singer Yeison Jiménez and his closest team — five loyal collaborators — all wiped out in a fiery small-plane crash just minutes after takeoff! 😱💔

The Piper Navajo struggled to climb, stalled, plunged into a field near Paipa, Boyacá, and exploded in flames. The black box has been recovered, revealing chilling details of the final moments — a technical failure that turned a routine flight to Medellín into tragedy. Witnesses heard shouts of “the runway ran out!” as the plane failed to gain altitude.

Yeison, 34, fresh off a show the night before, had eerily spoken of premonitory dreams about dying in a plane crash. Now those nightmares became reality, claiming the lives of his pilot, manager, photographer, and bandmates. Colombia’s música popular scene is in mourning — one of its brightest stars gone in an instant.

This is heartbreaking. The black box holds the truth, but nothing can bring them back.

Full details:

A private Piper PA-31 Navajo light aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Juan José Rondón Aerodrome in Paipa, Boyacá Department, on Jan. 10, 2026, killing all six people on board, including renowned Colombian música popular singer Yeison Jiménez, 34, and five close associates.

The aircraft, registered as N325FA, was en route to Medellín, where Jiménez was scheduled to perform that evening as part of the Fiestas Populares de la Vaca en la Torre in nearby Marinilla. The crash occurred around 4:10 p.m. in the rural Romita area along the road between Paipa and Duitama, just minutes after departure. The plane failed to gain sufficient altitude, stalled, and impacted the ground, erupting into flames upon collision.

Authorities from the Colombian Civil Aeronautics Authority (Aerocivil) confirmed the fatalities, listing the victims as pilot Captain Hernando Torres, passengers Juan Manuel Rodríguez, Óscar Marín (Jiménez’s personal assistant), Jefferson Osorio (his manager), Weisman Mora (photographer), and Jiménez himself. The bodies were severely burned, requiring forensic teams and firefighters to assist in recovery efforts, which continued into the early hours of Jan. 11.

The Dirección Técnica de Investigación de Accidentes (Technical Directorate for Accident Investigation), attached to Aerocivil, has taken the lead on the probe, with support from the National Police, Fiscalía General de la Nación, and local emergency services. Investigators recovered the aircraft’s black box (flight data and cockpit voice recorder), which is expected to provide key insights into the final moments, including pilot actions, engine performance, and any warnings issued.

Preliminary reports and expert analysis point to a possible aerodynamic stall — a condition where the wings lose lift due to insufficient airspeed or excessive angle of attack. Aviation specialists consulted by media outlets noted that the Piper Navajo requires speeds of 100-120 knots for safe takeoff and climb. Witnesses reported the plane struggling during its initial ascent, with some video footage capturing shouts of “the runway ran out” as it veered off course before crashing. One expert described the scenario as the aircraft maintaining engine power but failing to generate lift, leading to a rapid descent and impact.

The aerodrome’s unique conditions — high altitude (over 8,200 feet above sea level), shorter runway length, and surrounding obstacles — have been highlighted as potential contributing factors. Aerocivil officials stated this was the first recorded accident at the Juan José Rondón facility, describing it as a location that demands precise piloting due to its geography.

Video evidence has circulated widely, including security camera footage from a nearby farm showing the plane’s low flight path, descent, and subsequent fireball. Additional clips captured the takeoff attempt, with the aircraft appearing to lose altitude quickly after clearing the runway end. Emergency responders from Paipa, Duitama, and surrounding areas arrived swiftly, but the intense fire limited immediate rescue possibilities. All occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

Jiménez, born in Manzanares, Caldas, rose to prominence in Colombia’s música popular genre, blending ranchera influences with local sounds. Known for hits like “Se Acabó,” “Aventuro,” and “Vete,” he achieved major milestones, including selling out Bogotá’s El Campín Stadium in 2025 — a first for a Colombian regional artist. He was named a Latin breakthrough artist by Billboard in 2021 and had planned a return concert at the same venue on March 28, 2026.

In interviews, Jiménez had shared unsettling premonitions, describing recurring dreams of dying in a plane crash, including one where he and his band perished and appeared on the news. He recounted an incident where his pilot performed an emergency landing after spotting water in the engine. These revelations surfaced widely after the crash, adding a poignant layer to the tragedy.

The musician’s team issued a statement on his official Instagram: “With heavy hearts and a pain impossible to describe, the organization and team of Yeison Jiménez deeply regret to inform you of his passing. Yeison may be gone physically, but his legacy lives on: in his songs, in his words, in his struggles, in his refusal to give up, and in the indelible mark he leaves on Colombian regional music and in the hearts of his people.”

Tributes poured in from across Colombia and the Latin music world. Vice President Francia Márquez expressed solidarity, while Governor Carlos Amaya declared departmental mourning. Fans lit candles in Bogotá, and performers in Marinilla observed a moment of silence during the festival, where Jiménez was to headline.

The aircraft, a 1982 Piper PA-31-325 Navajo, was reportedly owned through Jiménez’s company and had a prior emergency in May 2024 involving an engine issue during landing in Medellín. Investigators are examining maintenance records, pilot qualifications, weather conditions, and human factors, including reports that the pilot may have used a cellphone before takeoff.

As of mid-January 2026, the investigation remains ongoing, with the black box data undergoing analysis. No final cause has been determined, but officials emphasize a thorough review of technical, operational, and environmental elements. The crash has renewed discussions on small-plane safety in high-altitude regions and the risks faced by touring artists relying on private aviation.

Jiménez leaves behind his wife and three children. His sudden death at the peak of his career has left Colombia’s música popular community grieving the loss of a performer who embodied perseverance and connection with his audience.