-
Tragic news.
Seventy-six people died when a chartered plane carrying members of a Brazilian soccer club crashed on the outskirts of Medellín, Colombia, the authorities said early Tuesday.
Five of the 81 people onboard survived, according to Brig. Gen. José Gerardo Acevedo, the police commander for the area surrounding Medellín, news agencies reported.
Colombia’s civil aviation agency said the flight was operated by a small airline, LaMia, and was carrying members of the Chapecoense de Brasil soccer club.
The team was traveling from Bolivia to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana tournament when the plane crashed around 10 p.m. on Monday.
The aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and nine crew members, according to a statement issued by the Medellín airport. Search and rescue efforts were hampered by low visibility and difficulty in reaching the site.
The authorities said the plane had reported electrical problems as it flew near the towns of La Ceja and La Unión, in mountainous stretches around Medellín.
The South American Football Confederation said it had suspended the Copa Sudamericana, and the group’s president is heading to Medellín.
<figure id="29-columbia-locator" class="interactive interactive-embedded limit-small layout-small" style="margin: 7px 30px 15px 0px; position: relative; border-top: 1px solid rgb(226, 226, 226); padding-top: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(226, 226, 226); padding-bottom: 15px; width: auto; overflow: hidden; max-width: 300px; min-width: 300px; float: left; clear: left;"><figcaption class="interactive-caption" style="font-size: 0.75rem; line-height: 1rem; font-family: nyt-cheltenham-sh, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"></figcaption>
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/vt?...f2&token=54285
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/vt?...f2&token=88364
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/vt?...f2&token=51323
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/vt?...f2&token=85785
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/vt?...f2&token=21539
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/vt?...2&token=121110
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/vt?...2&token=118148
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/vt?...f2&token=76503
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/vt?...2&token=115569
</figure>
-
That indeed is sad to hear. They were celebrating their win and was travelling relax. RIP.
-
Saw that last night - tragic.
-
