Brazil Football Team In Colombia Plane Crash
Agency report
Local media reports in Brazil say a plane carrying 81 people, including a top Brazilian football team, has crashed on its approach to the city of Medellin in Colombia.
Police have confirmed that five people survived the crash but the rest of those on board died. Meanwhile, a BBC report says a sixth survivor was later found.
Airport officials said the chartered aircraft, flying from Bolivia, was carrying members of the Chapecoense football team. They were due to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, against Medellin team Atletico Nacional.
In a statement issued by the club, it said: “May God be with our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests travelling with our delegation.”
It noted that no further comments would be made until it had assessed the extent of the crash.
Later the team’s vice-president, Ivan Tozzo, told cable channal SporTV: “There are a lot of people crying in our city. We could never imagine this. Chapecoense is the biggest reason for joy here.”
One of the survivors was confirmed as Chapecoense defender Alan Ruschel.
Reports suggest that at least two other footballers – goalkeepers Jackson Follman and Marcos Danilo – may have survived, as well as physiotherapist Rafael Gobbato, the BBC reports.
