A plane carrying a top Brazilian professional soccer club and over 20 sports journalists crashed late Monday, killing 75 of its 81 passengers.
The plane, a British Aerospace 146 aircraft operated by LaMia, was carrying Brazil’s Chapocoense soccer team to a top South American soccer tournament in Columbia. Nine crew members and over 20 journalists were also on board.
The plane experienced an “electrical emergency shortly before crashing,” according to NPR. The plane went down outside of Medellin in an isolated location. Rescue efforts were hampered by low visibility and heavy rainfall.
Columbia’s civil aviation authority reported that three players, two crew members and one journalist survived the crash, although The Guardian is reporting one of the six may have later died at the airport.
Estos son los sobrevivientes del accidente de avión en #Colombiahttps://t.co/ZBWqrGywhW #Chapecoense pic.twitter.com/wUK3rl4Rts
— José Luis Aguiar C. (@JLAC_NOTICIAS) November 29, 2016
Brazilian President, Michel Temer announced that there would be a three-day mourning period.
(AI) Presidente Temer decreta luto oficial por três dias pela tragédia na Colômbia https://t.co/0sggEMnZrD #ForçaChape @ChapecoenseReal
— Michel Temer (@MichelTemer) November 29, 2016
Chapecoense was flying to Columbia to compete in the Copa Sudamericana, South America’s second-most prestigious tournament. The South American Football Confederation suspended the tournament.
The team hailed from southern Brazil in the City of Chapeco, with a population of 210,000. After almost going bankrupt three years ago, the team enjoyed a successful “underdog” season against Brazil’s premier soccer teams.
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