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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Nov 29, 2016, 03:29 PM IST
An airplane crash in Colombia has killed 76 people, the vast majority of the 81 passengers and crew who were on board the plane, the Colombian police said on Tuesday.
The plane was carrying players, coaches and staff from the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense, as well as journalists set to covering the team's match in the Sudamericana final, South America's equivalent of the Europa League.
Medellin's airport confirmed that the aircraft, which departed from Bolivia, was transporting the Chapecoense soccer team from southern Brazil, which was scheduled to play the Copa Sudamerica finals against Atletico Nacional on Wednesday in Medellin.
Confirmado, la aeronave con matrícula CP2933 * transportaba al equipo @ChapecoenseReal. Al parecer hay sobrevivientes. — José María Córdova (@AeropuertoMDE) November 29, 2016
Aviation authorities said the British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane, operated by a Bolivian charter airline named Lamia, declared an emergency at 10 PM (08:30 IST today) due to an electrical failure.
Authorities and rescuers were immediately activated but an air force helicopter had to turn back because of low visibility.
The aircraft, which made a stop in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, was transporting the first division Chapecoense soccer team from southern Brazil.
The team was scheduled to play tomorrow in the first of a two-game Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional of Medellin.
(Developing story - With agency inputs)
