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Brazil football team Chapecoense in Colombia plane crash | Brazil football team Chapecoense in Colombia plane crash |
(35 minutes later) | |
A plane carrying 81 people, including a top Brazilian football team, has crashed on its approach to the city of Medellin in Colombia, officials say. | |
Reports say there are six survivors. The plane reported electrical problems. | |
The chartered aircraft, flying from Bolivia, was carrying members of the Chapecoense football team, airport officials said. | |
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 most important club competition, was scheduled for Wednesday, but has now been suspended. | The first leg of the final of the cup, South America's second most important club competition, was scheduled for Wednesday, but has now been suspended. |
The team, from the southern city of Chapeco, was promoted to Brazil's first division in 2014 and reached the final last week after a victory against Argentina's San Lorenzo. | |
Reports say the British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane, operated by Bolivian charter airline Lamia and carrying 72 passengers and nine crew, crashed in a mountainous area outside the city shortly before midnight local time (05:00 GMT). | |
According to an airport press release, it was reporting an electrical fault to the control tower. | |
Medellin's Mayor Federico Gutierrez described it as "a tragedy of huge proportions". | |
The Jose Maria Cordova de Rionegro airport, which serves Medellin, posted on its Twitter account: "Confirmed, the aircraft licence number CP2933 was carrying the team @ChapecoenseReal. Apparently there are survivors." | The Jose Maria Cordova de Rionegro airport, which serves Medellin, posted on its Twitter account: "Confirmed, the aircraft licence number CP2933 was carrying the team @ChapecoenseReal. Apparently there are survivors." |
It later said in a statement that "all possible aid was being mobilised because six survivors are being reported". | |
Poor weather has meant that the crash site is only accessible by land. | |
However, there was no fire on impact, which has given rescuers hope that more survivors may be found. | |
Chapecoense football team |