76 Dead, 5 Survived In Brazilian Football Team Plane Crash

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, Sports News Tuesday, November 29th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – A plane with 81 people on board, including a top Brazilian football team, Tuesday crashed on its approach to the city of Medellin in Colombia, leaving about 76 passengers dead and five survivors.

Airport Officials said the chartered aircraft was flying from Bolivia, with members of the Chapecoense football team.

It was confirmed that the team was due to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, against Medellin team Atletico Nacional.

The first leg of the final of the cup, South America’s second very key club competition, was scheduled for Wednesday. The match has been suspended due to the crash.

The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) said it was suspending “all activities”.

Chapecoense in a statement prayed “May God be with our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests travelling with our delegation.”

The team however said it would refrain from making further statements until it had assessed the extent of the crash.

Reports indicated that the British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane, operated by Bolivian charter airline Lamia and carrying 72 passengers and nine crew, crashed in Cerro Gordo in the municipality of La Union shortly before midnight local time (05:00 GMT).

The mayor of the nearby town of La Ceja has since confirmed that a 25-year-old Brazilian footballer was among the survivors.

In the meantime, Medellin’s Mayor Federico Gutierrez has described the crash as “a tragedy of huge proportions”.