29 Nov 2016

Reports: 76 dead after Colombia plane crash

11:21 pm on 29 November 2016

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 five survivors. The plane reported electrical problems.

This file photo taken on November 24, 2016 shows Brazil's Chapecoense players posing for pictures during their 2016 Copa Sudamericana semifinal second leg football match against Argentina's San Lorenzo held at Arena Conda stadium, in Chapeco, Brazil.

A file photo of Brazil's Chapecoense football team, taken on 24 November 2016, at the semi-final against Argentina in the 2016 Copa Sudamericana. Photo: AFP

Regional police commander Jose Gerardo Acevedo said six people were rescued from the crash but one of those died.

"The rest of the occupants unfortunately died. The tragic toll is 76 victims," he said.

Brazilian news organizations reported 21 journalists had also been on board.

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 (Tuesday NZT), 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 (6pm NZT).

According to an airport statement, 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."

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

Brazilian TV channels Globonews and SporTV identified the surviving players as defender Alan Ruschel, goalkeeper Danilo and reserve goalkeeper Jakson Follmann. It was not immediately possible to confirm survivors' identities.

- BBC / Reuters