Colombian singer Yeison Jiménez, one of the country’s most prominent música popular artists, was killed when a private aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in central Colombia, aviation authorities said. All six people on board the flight died.
Jiménez was 34.
The aircraft, registered as N325FA, went down in the area between the towns of Paipa and Duitama in the Boyacá department while en route to Medellín, the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics, Colombia’s civil aviation authority, said in a statement posted on X.
There were no survivors.
Jiménez’s death, along with that of several members of his professional team, was confirmed in a statement shared on the singer’s official Instagram account.
“With heavy hearts and a pain impossible to describe, the organization and team of Yeison Jiménez deeply regret to inform you of his passing,” the statement said in a message translated from Spanish. “Today we say goodbye not only to an artist, but to a son, a brother, a friend, a human being full of dreams and courage.”
The post described Jiménez as an artist whose life story resonated deeply with fans across Colombia and beyond.
“Yeison embodied perseverance, discipline and love for his community,” the statement said. “His voice and his example were born from hard work, and that is why they will forever mark the lives of those who followed and loved him.”
Authorities said the plane crashed shortly after takeoff. Local media footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft engulfed in flames after impact, with bystanders shouting warnings as the plane struggled to gain altitude.
Transportation Minister María Fernanda Rojas said an investigation into the cause of the crash has been opened. The Civil Aviation Authority said its Technical Directorate for Accident Investigation has begun collecting evidence from the site.
The crash remains under investigation, according to TMZ.
In addition to Jiménez, those killed were identified as the pilot, Captain Hernando Torres, and passengers Juan Manuel Rodríguez, Óscar Marín, Jefferson Osorio and Weisman Mora, aviation officials said. Several of the victims were members of Jiménez’s professional team.
A representative for the singer said condolences and prayers were being extended to the families of all those who died.
E! Online reported that Jiménez is survived by his wife, Sonia Restrepo, and their three children.
The Sun reported that Jiménez had shared a reflective message on social media shortly before boarding the flight, writing: “Always humble, because what God gives you he can also take away.”
The Independent confirmed that all six people on board the private aircraft were killed in the crash, which occurred in central-eastern Colombia on Saturday.
Jiménez, whose full name was Yeison Orlando Jiménez Galeano, was one of Colombia’s most influential artists in the música popular genre, a style that blends Colombian folk traditions with elements of Mexican ranchera music.
Born in Manzanares, in the department of Caldas, in 1991, Jiménez devoted himself to music full-time from the age of 17. He released his first commercial song, “Te Deseo Lo Mejor,” in 2013 and went on to produce eight albums over a career that spanned more than a decade.
Songs such as “Aventurero” and “Hasta La Madre” helped propel him to national fame. Billboard credited him with becoming the first Colombian artist to sell out Bogotá’s Movistar Arena three times, performing to more than 40,000 fans in total.
Jiménez also became the first singer in the música popular genre to sell out a solo concert at the Movistar Arena in 2024, a milestone that underscored the genre’s growing mainstream appeal.
He amassed more than 2.7 million subscribers on YouTube and drew over 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. In 2021, he served as a celebrity judge on the Latin American television competition “Yo Me Llamo.”
The Boyacá governor’s office declared a period of mourning following the crash, as tributes poured in from fans, fellow artists and public figures.
Messages posted in response to the announcement of Jiménez’s death reflected the depth of his influence. One fan wrote, “I never thought I’d see a post like this so soon. This is all so painful.” Another said, “Thank you for your music, your example and your voice that will always live on in our celebrations.”
Fellow música popular artist Andrés García called Jiménez “the number one artist in the genre,” praising his humility and legacy.
“Fly high, Champion,” García wrote. “Strength to all his family.”
Jiménez’s death represents more than the loss of a successful recording artist. It marks a significant moment for música popular, a genre that for decades remained rooted in regional audiences before gaining national prominence.
By bridging traditional Colombian sounds with contemporary storytelling, Jiménez helped reshape the genre’s identity and expand its reach to younger listeners. His success at major venues signaled a broader cultural shift in Colombian music consumption.
The crash also renews scrutiny on private aviation safety in Latin America, where small aircraft are commonly used for touring artists and business travel. While investigations are ongoing, similar incidents in the region have previously raised concerns about aircraft maintenance, runway conditions and weather-related risks.
For fans, Jiménez’s death carries a particular poignancy because of his public persona as a self-made artist whose lyrics often focused on perseverance and humility. The final message he shared before boarding the flight has taken on symbolic weight, echoing themes present throughout his music.
As authorities work to determine what caused the crash, Jiménez’s legacy continues through his recordings and the genre he helped elevate. His influence on Colombian popular music is likely to endure long after the investigation concludes.
theidependent/eonline
