The Colombian music world is in mourning following the tragic death of star singer Yeison Jiménez in a devastating plane crash. The 34-year-old artist, full name Yeison Orlando Jimenez Galeano, was killed alongside five others when a light aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff on Saturday afternoon.
The Final Flight and a Fatal Takeoff
The accident occurred at approximately 4pm local time on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The aircraft had just departed from Paipa Airport in Colombia's Tundama Province but failed to gain adequate height. Shocking footage circulated online captured the moment of the crash, with onlookers heard screaming that the plane was 'running out of runway' as it reached the end of the airstrip.
The plane subsequently hit the ground and caught fire. Jiménez was travelling to the city of Medellín, specifically near the town of Marinilla, where he was scheduled to perform a concert that very evening.
A Chilling Premonition and Heartbreaking Tributes
In a deeply unsettling twist, the popular singer had previously spoken about a recurring dream in which he died in an air accident. During a podcast interview, Jiménez revealed: "I start dreaming about a very delicate subject, which is that we were going to have an accident. I see it three times in my accident... I dreamt twice in Spain, on tour in Spain."
Just before boarding the fatal flight, the musician posted a poignant message on social media that read: ‘Always humble, because what God gives you he can also take away.’ His photographer, Weisman Mora, who shared a final video from inside the plane before takeoff, was also among the victims.
The singer's stepdaughter, Camila Jiménez, led the emotional tributes online, writing: "I love you dad. You don’t know how much it hurts me to see your videos and for you not to be here." Fans flooded social media with messages, one stating: "God have you in his glory. Rest in peace. You were a great man, a brilliant artist and a loving father."
Legacy of a Music Icon
Yeison Jiménez was a leading figure in música popular, a Colombian folk genre that blends traditional Mexican ranchera with Colombian roots. He began performing at the age of seven and enjoyed a prolific career, writing over 70 songs and releasing eight albums. He was widely credited with revitalising the genre.
In a major career milestone, he sold out Bogotá’s Movistar Arena twice in 2024, a feat no other Colombian artist had achieved. The regional government of Boyaca paid tribute, calling him "one of the most representative figures of Colombian popular music."
Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the deaths of all six occupants on board. The other victims were named as pilot Hernando Torres; co-pilot Juan Manuel Rodriguez; passengers Oscar Marin and Jefferson Osorio; and photographer Weisman Mora. The aircraft is understood to have belonged to Jiménez's own firm, YJ Company SAS.
Jiménez is survived by his wife, Sonia Restrepo, and his three children. The music industry and his legion of fans are left to mourn the profound loss of a talented artist whose life was cut tragically short.
