Internet Desk: A plane carrying Brazilian soccer team Chapocoense crashed on its way to Madellin airport in Colombia. At least 81 passengers were believed to be on board. Out of the six passengers believed to have survived are footballers. Defender Alan Ruschel and reserve goalkeeper Jackson Follman has survived the fatal crash.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the Jose Maria Cordova International Airport said at least six survivors had been rescued at the site, which could only be accessed by land due to harsh weather conditions.
The Chapocoense football team was among 72 passengers and 9 crew members on board.
It is not clear what the exact reason for the crash was. The rescue operations were severely affected as it has been raining heavily with thunderstorms in Colombia in recent hours.
Medellin’s airport confirmed that the aircraft, which made a stop in Bolivia, was carrying the first division Chapecoense football team which was scheduled to play the final of Copa Sudamericana against Atletico Nacional of Medellin.
A video published on the team’s Facebook page showed the team preparing for the flight earlier on Monday in Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos international airport.
Founded in 1974, the team has only been playing in Brazil’s Serie A since 2014 but is currently ranked ninth ahead of much more famous and established teams such as Sao Paulo, Fluminense and Cruzeiro.
Last week, it became the first Brazilian team in three years to make it to the final of the Copa Sudamericana after beating Argentine side San Lorenzo.
The club is statement released said, “May God be with our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests travelling with our delegation.”