Colombia plane crash: British experts fly to Medellin to probe crash which killed Chapecoense footballers

Rescuers search for survivors from the wreckage of the plane crash
AFP/Getty Images
Jamie Bullen30 November 2016

British investigators have flown to Colombia to help authorities establish the cause of a plane crash which killed 76 people including players and officials from a Brazilian football club.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said a small team had been dispatched to South America because the aircraft was manufactured in the UK.

At least 76 people died when a plane carrying the Chapecoense team, along with club officials and journalists, crashed on the way to Medellin for the final of the Copa Sudamerica, the second biggest club competition in South America.

Colombia's civil aviation authority - Aeronautica Civil - said in a statement that the plane had been carrying "22 footballers, 28 companions and technical staff, 22 journalists and nine crew members".

Wreckage: 81 people were on board the plane when it crashed
AFP/Getty Images

The plane had taken off from Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia and declared an emergency due to power failure before losing contact with the control tower, the Jose Maria Cordova International Airport in Medellin said in a statement.

The British Aerospace 146 plane, operated by charter airline LaMia, was first flown in 1999, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

An AAIB spokesman said: "The Colombian accident investigation authority has requested the assistance of the UK AAIB and BAE Systems.

Mourning: Chapecoense fans gather in mourning outside the team's Arena Conda stadium
REUTERS

“The AAIB is deploying a team of three accident investigators specialising in operations, engineering and flight data recorders to the accident site.

"They will be assisted by representatives from the UK manufacturer. The AAIB team is expected to arrive in Medellin tomorrow."

Officials said six people initially survived the crash including three footballers but goalkeeper Marcos Danilo Padilha was later pronounced dead.

Tributes left for Chapecoense players
AFP/Getty Images

Among the reported survivors are players, Alan Luciano Ruschel and Jacson Ragnar Follmann, as well as crew member Ximena Suarez and journalist Rafael Henzel.

However, their long-term prognosis is not yet known.

Football stars including Barcelona players Leo Messi, Neymar and Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney led the tributes as the sport mourned the tragedy.

Manchester United, which had to rebuild after a deadly air disaster in Munich in 1958, said in a statement on Twitter: "The thoughts of everyone at Manchester United are with @ChapecoenseReal & all those affected by the tragedy in Colombia."

Tribute: Wembley Stadium was lit up in the traditional Chapecoense colours on Tuesday 
@FA/Twitter

While captain Wayne Rooney added: "Sad news to wake up to today. Thoughts are with @ChapecoenseReal and their family and friends."

On Tuesday, Wembley stadium was lit up in the traditional colours of Chapecoense on Tuesday night in honour of the victims.

Plinio David de Nes Filho, the president of the club's board, said: "Lifelong friends were on that flight. It looks unlikely that many survived.

“This was not just a group founded on mutual respect; it was a family.”

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