Plane crash in Colombia with premier football team onboard
A plane carrying 81 people, including one of Brazil’s premier football teams, has crashed.
The accident happened as the aircraft approached the city of Medellin in Colombia.
Reports say there are six known survivors and more might be found.
The chartered aircraft, a BAe146, was operated by Bolivian airline Lamia and was flying from Bolivia with 72 passengers and nine crew.
It reported electrical problems to air traffic control shortly before crashing in Cerro Gordo in the municipality of La Union shortly before midnight local time (5am GMT).
The aircraft was carrying members of the Chapecoense football team, which was due to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, against Medellin team Atletico Nacional.
Medellin’s Mayor Federico Gutierrez described it as ‘a tragedy of huge proportions’, said the BBC.
Poor weather has meant that the crash site, in a mountainous area, is only accessible by land. However, there was no fire on impact, which has given rescuers hope that more survivors may be found.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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