Chapecoense: 76 People Reported Dead As Plane Carrying Brazilian Team Crashes In Colombia

Chris Wright

29th, November 2016

5 Comments

chapacoense-crash

Dreadful news is emanating from Colombia this morning that a plane carrying Brazilian team Chapecoense crashed overnight while en route to Medellin airport, killing almost everybody on board.

Colombian police have since confirmed that from a total of 81, only five people survived the crash, which happened in the mountainous area of La Union, around 20 miles from the airport.

Jose Gerardo Acevedo, the regional police commander, told local media:

Six people were rescued alive, but unfortunately one died. The rest of the occupants unfortunately died.

The tragic toll is 76 victims.

The grim details continue to filter through…

The team were flying into Colombia to play Atletico Nacional in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final on Wednesday night.

CONMEBOL have now confirmed that the finals and “all federation activities” have been suspended until further notice.

This is the team, celebrating en masse after reaching the Copa Sudamericana final last week…

Such a terrible tragedy. Truly heartbreaking.

Posted in South America

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5 Comments

  1. Bruno says:

    I was born in Chapeco… I trained with this club for 6 years when I was a kid (I’m not a footballer, but I played for them from when I was 7 years old until I was 13).
    10 years ago we were in the brazilian third divison, almost closing the doors, this is a small club from a small agricultural town in the middle of nowhere (population is 190000). Now we’re in the first divison, we played against River Plate last year, the club is well run (almost an impossible thing in brazil).
    We were going to play the final of the Copa Sudamericana (our Europa League), which is unbelievable, biggest game in the history of club… I just can’t believe this. 3 players alive. 76 people killed. Can’t believe this.

    • Chris Wright says:

      @Bruno: I never imagined we’d have a Pies fan so close to the team.

      The more I read about Chapecoense, the more they appear to be a fantastic, plucky little football club – making what happened last night seem all the more tragic.

      All we can do is offer our humble condolences.

    • Johnny Traktor says:

      Humble condolences to you, Bruno. This is fucked up.

  2. Kenneth says:

    may their soul rest in perfect peace

  3. Bruno says:

    Thank you. Chapecoense will be back stronger.

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