A chartered aircraft with 81 on board, including a Brazilian football team heading to Colombia for a regional tournament final, has crashed on its way to Medellin’s international airport.

Officials from the airport reported only six survivors in a statement.

The plane had declared an emergency due to power failure before losing contact with the control tower.

Colombia has been hit by heavy storms which are hampering rescue efforts. “The site of the accident is only accessible by land due to climatic conditions and low visibility,” a statement from the airport said.

“The Colombian Air Force deployed a search and rescue helicopter which had to cancel the mission due to the adverse conditions.

“According to the authorities the police are mobilising all possible help since they are reporting six survivors.” Officials said the plane was carrying 72 passengers and nine crew members.

Medellin’s airport confirmed that the aircraft, which made a stop in Bolivia, was taking the first division Chapecoense football team from southern Brazil. The team was due to play on Wednesday in the first of a two-game Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional of Medellin.

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) expressed its alarm as details of the crash emerged.

Its statement noted that different information was emerging through various sources, and said: “Chapecoense Football Club, through its vice-president Ivan Tozzo, reserves the right to wait for the official announcement from the Colombian air authority, in order to issue any official note about the accident.

“God be with our athletes, management, journalists and other guests who are with the delegation.”

Newspaper El Colombiano reported the plane went missing at around 10pm local time on Monday (3am Irish time on Tuesday). The same newspaper said one footballer was among the survivors and had been taken to hospital.

“It’s a tragedy of huge proportions,” Medellin’s mayor Federico Gutierrez told Blu Radio on his way to the site in a mountainous area outside the city where the chartered aircraft has crashed.

A video published on the team’s Facebook page showed players readying for the flight earlier on Monday in Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos international airport.

The team, from the small city of Chapeco, joined Brazil’s first division in 2014 for the first time since the 1970s and made it to the Copa Sudamericana finals last week by defeating Argentina’s legendary San Lorenzo squad. </s> (CNN) Four people who were due to board the plane that crashed, killing 71 people in Colombia, have revealed how last-minute changes stopped them from getting on the flight.

The Lamia 2933 flight, carrying Brazilian football team Chapecoense, crashed late Monday near Medellin. Six of the 77 people on board survived.

Merisio, 50, had been looking forward to the game only to switch his plans late on because of work commitments.

"I want to be clear, that while I was scheduled to fly on the plane with the team, I opted not to do it due to work obligations this week," he wrote in a statement on Facebook.

Also aboard the flight were more than 20 journalists who were covering the soccer team's Cinderella story.

Also aboard the flight were more than 20 journalists who were covering the soccer team's Cinderella story.

The plane declared an emergency between the municipalities of La Ceja and La Union, according to Colombian aviation officials. The crash occurred in an area called Cerro El Gordo near Medellin, officials said.

The plane declared an emergency between the municipalities of La Ceja and La Union, according to Colombian aviation officials. The crash occurred in an area called Cerro El Gordo near Medellin, officials said.

Rescue workers recover bodies on November 29. Authorities are investigating what caused the crash.

Rescue workers recover bodies on November 29. Authorities are investigating what caused the crash.

The Avro RJ85 was traveling from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to Medellin. The soccer club, which has risen the ranks in Brazilian soccer and now has a devoted national fan base, was set to play in the first leg of the South American Cup finals on Wednesday.

The Avro RJ85 was traveling from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to Medellin. The soccer club, which has risen the ranks in Brazilian soccer and now has a devoted national fan base, was set to play in the first leg of the South American Cup finals on Wednesday.

A charter airplane with 77 people on board, including players from the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense, crashed near Rionegro, Colombia, outside Medellin, on Monday, November 28. At least 71 people were killed, officials said. Six survived.

Later, after the severity of the crash became evident, he paid tribute to those who lost their lives.

Just three players, Jackson Ragnar Follmann, Alan Ruschel and Helio Hermito Zampier Neto, survived the crash. Three others, two crew members and a reporter also survived.

Doctors in Medellin amputated Follmann's right leg and he is currently in the hospital's intensive care unit, according to Juan David Arteaga, the Undersecretary of Social Protection for the state of Antioquia.

Arteaga says that Neto is under observation following multiple surgeries and Alan Ruschel is in the ICU.

Another of those who was originally supposed to be on the plane was journalist Ivan Carlos Agnoletto -- he said he gave up his seat for colleague Gelson Galliotto, who had always dreamed of covering such a huge game.

"I was scheduled to cover the game, but my colleague had a huge dream to cover an international final.

"When I told Gelson Galiotto the news that he could go in my place, he could not believe it: 'Really? I'm really going?' It was his dream."

Agnoletto said he did not hear about the crash until his wife began to receive a barrage of calls with people offering their condolences.

"It was as if I was dead," he added. "I went to the TV and saw the plane had crashed."

The mayor of Chapeco, Luciano Buligon, and the president of the club's board, Plinio David de Nes Filho, were also on the passenger list but missed the flight to attend a meeting in Sao Paulo.

"It is the biggest tragedy Chapeco could go through. We lived a moment of ecstasy with our football club." </s> A plane carrying 72 people, including a Brazilian football team, has crashed on its approach to the city of Medellin in Colombia.

Details are unclear but some reports say there are survivors.

The chartered plane, 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 South American club cup against Medellin team Atletico Nacional.

The final has now been suspended.

Reports say the plane crashed in a mountainous area outside the city shortly before midnight local time (05:00 GMT).

Medellin's Mayor Federico Gutierrez described it as "a tragedy of huge proportions", but added it was possible there were survivors.

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." </s> Officials say six survivors have been rescued from the wreckage of a chartered plane carrying 81 people, including the squad of a top Brazilian football team, which crashed outside the Colombian city of Medellin.

Latest updates:

Plane carrying 81 crashes in the mountains

Plane was carrying team of Chapecoense Real

75 people have been killed

Six people survived

Authorities investigating whether plane crashed due to electrical failure or ran out of fuel

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The crash occurred amid poor weather conditions as the plane was on its way to the city's international airport, and the country's civil aviation authority said ambulances and emergency workers had arrived at the scene.

Local authorities said there appeared to be survivors, and confirmed the plane was a chartered flight carrying the team of Chapecoense Real for the final of a regional tournament.

Shape Created with Sketch. Medellin Plane Crash Show all 17 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Medellin Plane Crash 1/17 Logo of Brazilian football team Chapecoense at the site of the plane crash in a mountainous area outside the Colombian city of Medellin. Plane carrying Brazilian football team Chapecoense crashes in Colombia Rex 2/17 Rescue workers carry the body of a survivor of a plane that crashed in La Union, a mountainous area outside Medellin, Colombia AP 3/17 Rescue workers carry the body of a man from a plane that crashed outside Medellin, Colombia. The plane was carrying the Brazilian first division soccer club Chapecoense team that was on it's way for a Copa Sudamericana final match against Colombia's Atletico Nacional AP 4/17 Medical staff waiting for survivors of the crashed plane carrying the Brazilian football team Chapecoense, at San Juan de Dios La Ceja Hospital, in La Ceja municipality, near Medellin Rex 5/17 Medical staff from the San Juan de Dios hospital transfer 27-year-old Brazilian soccer player Alan Ruschel as he arrives to La Ceja in Colombia Rex 6/17 81 people, including the players of the Brazilian soccer club Chapecoense, crashed in a mountainous area outside Medellin as it was approaching the Jose Maria Cordoba airport EPA 7/17 Medical staff from the San Juan de Dios hospital transfer Brazilian journalist Rafael Henze as he arrives at La Ceja in Colombia after surviving a plane crash EPA 8/17 razil's Chapecoense player Helio Neto is helped by paramedics at the San Juan de Dios clinic in La Ceja. Traveling on the doomed airliner that crashed in Colombia overnight were the players and staff of a Brazilian football club about to complete a fairytale journey from unknowns to would-be South American champions Getty 9/17 Rescue workers search at the wreckage site of a chartered airplane that crashed outside Medellin, Colombia AP 10/17 A charter plane carrying the Chapocoense Real football team crashed in the mountains in Colombia late Monday, killing as many as 75 people, officials said Getty 11/17 Rescuers gesture near the wreckage of the LAMIA airlines charter plane carrying members of the Chapecoense Real football team that crashed in the mountains of Cerro Gordo, municipality of La Union Getty 12/17 Supporters of the Chapcoense FC gathering at the club in Chapeco, Brazil EPA 13/17 Supporters of the Chapcoense FC gathering at the club in Chapeco, Brazil EPA 14/17 People pay tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in the Colombian mountains, at the club's Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco Getty 15/17 Fans pay tribute to members of the Chapecoense team in front of the club headquarters, in the city of Chapeco Getty 16/17 People pay tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in the Colombian mountains, at the club's Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco Getty 17/17 People pay tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in the Colombian mountains, at the club's Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco, in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina Getty 1/17 Logo of Brazilian football team Chapecoense at the site of the plane crash in a mountainous area outside the Colombian city of Medellin. Plane carrying Brazilian football team Chapecoense crashes in Colombia Rex 2/17 Rescue workers carry the body of a survivor of a plane that crashed in La Union, a mountainous area outside Medellin, Colombia AP 3/17 Rescue workers carry the body of a man from a plane that crashed outside Medellin, Colombia. The plane was carrying the Brazilian first division soccer club Chapecoense team that was on it's way for a Copa Sudamericana final match against Colombia's Atletico Nacional AP 4/17 Medical staff waiting for survivors of the crashed plane carrying the Brazilian football team Chapecoense, at San Juan de Dios La Ceja Hospital, in La Ceja municipality, near Medellin Rex 5/17 Medical staff from the San Juan de Dios hospital transfer 27-year-old Brazilian soccer player Alan Ruschel as he arrives to La Ceja in Colombia Rex 6/17 81 people, including the players of the Brazilian soccer club Chapecoense, crashed in a mountainous area outside Medellin as it was approaching the Jose Maria Cordoba airport EPA 7/17 Medical staff from the San Juan de Dios hospital transfer Brazilian journalist Rafael Henze as he arrives at La Ceja in Colombia after surviving a plane crash EPA 8/17 razil's Chapecoense player Helio Neto is helped by paramedics at the San Juan de Dios clinic in La Ceja. Traveling on the doomed airliner that crashed in Colombia overnight were the players and staff of a Brazilian football club about to complete a fairytale journey from unknowns to would-be South American champions Getty 9/17 Rescue workers search at the wreckage site of a chartered airplane that crashed outside Medellin, Colombia AP 10/17 A charter plane carrying the Chapocoense Real football team crashed in the mountains in Colombia late Monday, killing as many as 75 people, officials said Getty 11/17 Rescuers gesture near the wreckage of the LAMIA airlines charter plane carrying members of the Chapecoense Real football team that crashed in the mountains of Cerro Gordo, municipality of La Union Getty 12/17 Supporters of the Chapcoense FC gathering at the club in Chapeco, Brazil EPA 13/17 Supporters of the Chapcoense FC gathering at the club in Chapeco, Brazil EPA 14/17 People pay tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in the Colombian mountains, at the club's Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco Getty 15/17 Fans pay tribute to members of the Chapecoense team in front of the club headquarters, in the city of Chapeco Getty 16/17 People pay tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in the Colombian mountains, at the club's Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco Getty 17/17 People pay tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in the Colombian mountains, at the club's Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco, in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina Getty

The British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane, operated by a charter airline named LaMia, declared an emergency at 10pm Monday (0300 GMT) because of an electrical failure.

"It's a tragedy of huge proportions," Medellin Mayor Federico Gutierrez told Blu Radio on his way to the site in a mountainous area outside the city where aircraft crashed.

The aircraft, which made a stop in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, was transporting the first division Chapecoense soccer team from southern Brazil. The team was scheduled to play Wednesday in the first of a two-game Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional of Medellin.

"May God accompany our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests traveling with our delegation," the club said in a brief statement on its Facebook page.

South America's soccer federation extended its condolences to the entire Chapecoense community and said its president, Luis Dominguez, was on his way to Medellin. All soccer activities were suspended until further notice, the organisation said in a statement. </s> The chartered aircraft, flying from Bolivia, crashed on its approach to the city of Medellin’s international airport.

The flight was carrying members of the Chapecoense football team, airport officials said.

Ambulances and rescuers were on their way to the crash site and it is possible there are survivors, the city’s mayor Federico Gutierrez said.

The plane crashed in a mountainous area outside the city shortly before midnight local time (5am GMT), according to reports.

"It's a tragedy of huge proportions," Mr Gutierrez told Blu Radio as he made his way to the site.

It is not clear what caused the crash of the aircraft, a British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane, but Colombia had been hit by heavy rains and thunderstorms in recent hours.

The plane was initially reported to be carrying 81 people on board, although it was not known if that figure included the crew.

The first division Chapecoense football team, from southern Brazil, were on their way to Colombia for a regional tournament final.

They were scheduled to play in the first of a two-game Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional of Medellin on Wednesday.

In a statement on its Facebook page, Chapecoense said: "May God accompany our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests traveling with our delegation."

The team said it would refrain from any further statements until it had fully evaluated the extent of the crash.

A video published on the team's Facebook page showed the team readying for the flight earlier Monday in Sao Paulo's Guarulhos international airport.

The team, from the small city of Chapeco, joined Brazil's first division in 2014 for the first time since the 1970s and made it to the Copa Sudamericana finals last week by defeating Argentina's legendary San Lorenzo squad. </s> A chartered aircraft with 81 people on board, including a Brazilian first division football team heading to Colombia for a regional tournament final, has crashed on its way to Medellin’s international airport.

Aviation authorities said there are reports of at least six survivors.

Aviation authorities said there are reports of at least six survivors.

“It’s a tragedy of huge proportions,” Medellin’s Mayor Federico Gutierrez Gutierrez told Blu Radio on his way to the site in a mountainous area outside the city where aircraft crashed.

Aviation authorities said the aircraft, a British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane operated by a Bolivian charter airline named Lamia, declared an emergency at 10 p.m. Monday (0300 GMT) due to an electrical failure.

Authorities and rescuers were immediately activated but an air force helicopter had to turn back due to low visibility.

The aircraft, which made a stop in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, was transporting the first division Chapecoense soccer team from southern Brazil.

The team was scheduled to play Wednesday in the first of a two-game Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional of Medellin.

The plane was carrying 72 passengers and nine crew members, aviation authorities said in a statement. Local radio said the same aircraft transported Argentina’s national squad for a match earlier this month in Brazil.

A video published on the team’s Facebook page showed the team readying for the flight earlier Monday in Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos international airport.

The team, from the small city of Chapeco, joined Brazil’s first division in 2014 for the first time since the 1970s and made it to the Copa Sudamericana finals last week by defeating Argentina’s legendary San Lorenzo squad.

The South American soccer federation has canceled all activities until further notice as a result of today’s crash.

The CONMEBOL federation said in a statement that its president, Alejandro Dominguez, is on his way to Medellin.

The first of the two-game Copa Sudamericana final was scheduled to be played Wednesday in Medellin between Chapecoense and Atletico Nacional. </s> Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Footage shows the devastation following the crash near Medellin in Colombia

A plane carrying 77 people, including a top Brazilian football team, has crashed on its approach to the city of Medellin in Colombia.

Colombia's civil aviation body says only six people survived the crash, blamed on an electrical fault.

The chartered aircraft, flying from Brazil via Bolivia, was carrying members of the Chapecoense team.

The team had been due to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, against Medellin team Atletico Nacional.

Organisers say Atletico Nacional has asked for Chapecoense to be awarded the cup. Brazilian clubs have offered to lend players to them for free for the next year.

Colombian aviation officials said there were 21 journalists on board.

What happened?

The plane lost contact with ground controllers as it approached Medellin at about 22:15 (03:45 GMT), after the pilot reported an electrical fault. It came down in a mountainous area.

At least two of the survivors are footballers. They were confirmed to be defender Alan Ruschel and reserve goalkeeper Jackson Follman.

Image copyright AP Image caption The plane was travelling from Brazil via Bolivia

Some reports suggest another defender, Helio Neto, was also rescued.

Goalkeeper Marcos Padilha, also known as Danilo, was pulled alive from the wreckage but a spokesman said he later died in hospital.

The sports network Telemundo Deportes tweeted (in Spanish) that Ruschel was in shock but conscious and talking, and had asked to keep his wedding ring and to see his family.

Who are Chapecoense? - Luis Barrucho, BBC Brasil

Image copyright AFP Image caption The team were due to play in the first leg of the final of the Copa Sudamericana

Shortly before boarding in Sao Paulo, Chapecoense manager Cadu Gaucho, 36, appeared in a video posted on the team's Facebook site [in Portuguese] describing the trip to Medellin as "the club's most important to date".

Playing in the final of the Copa Sudamericana was to be the highlight of a glorious season for the team from a small city of less than 200,000 inhabitants in the state of Santa Catarina.

Founded in 1973, the team has been playing in Brazil's Serie A since only 2014 but is currently 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, South America's second most important club competition, after beating Argentine side San Lorenzo.

One of the founders of the club, Alvadir Pelisser, told BBC Brasil the tragedy had put an "end to everyone's dream". "We were a family, I'm shocked," he added.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Rescuers are working in cold, hilly terrain with only hand torches for light

Read our coverage in Spanish and in Portuguese

What is the reaction?

Brazilian President Michel Temer announced three days of national mourning, and top Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona held a minute's silence at the beginning of their practice sessions.

Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption Bodies from the crash site were removed at daylight on Tuesday

Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption A young boy mourns the team at their stadium in Chapeco - many more have gathered outside

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Sports journalist Ricardo Setyon knew some of those on board

Chapecoense's vice-president, Ivan Tozzo, told cable channel SporTV: "There are a lot of people crying in our city. We could never imagine this. Chapecoense is the biggest reason for joy here."

Goalkeeping coach Marcelo De Quadros Kunst stayed in Brazil with players who did not travel to Colombia.

He told the BBC: "We see wives fainting, ambulances taking them to the hospital, family members holding on to football boots left behind."

Argentine forward Alejandro Martinuccio was one of those who had to stay behind. "I was saved because I got injured," he told Argentina's La Red radio.

"I feel profound sadness. The only thing I can ask is prayers for the companions who were on the flight."

Image copyright Twitter/Chapecoense Image caption The Chapecoense badge has changed from green to black on the club's social media account as a mark of respect

Other sporting plane crashes

September 2011 : 36 players, coaches and officials from Russian ice hockey team Lokomotiv die in a crash north-east of Moscow;

: 36 players, coaches and officials from Russian ice hockey team Lokomotiv die in a crash north-east of Moscow; April 1993 : A crash in Libreville, Gabon, kills 18 players from Zambia's male national football team;

: A crash in Libreville, Gabon, kills 18 players from Zambia's male national football team; October 1972 : Members of a Uruguyan rugby club were among 29 people who died in a crash in the Andes and in the subsequent freezing conditions;

: Members of a Uruguyan rugby club were among 29 people who died in a crash in the Andes and in the subsequent freezing conditions; February 1958: Eight players from English champions Manchester United are among the 29 victims of a crash in Munich

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·Send an SMS or MMS to +44 7624 800 100 </s> Fuel shortages and negligence caused a plane crash that killed 71 people in 2016, including most members of Brazilian football team Chapecoense, Colombian authorities have concluded.

The plane crashed on November 28 2016, on a mountain in Colombia just a few miles from Medellin.

Officials say crew members ignored a low-fuel warning when the plane was about 40 minutes from its intended destination.

Instead of making an emergency landing at a nearby airport, they headed on towards Medellin and the British Aerospace Avro RJ85 ran out of fuel. </s> Among the 72 passengers and nine crew were members of Chapecoense Real, a Brazilian football club that was supposed to play against Colombia's Atletico Nacional Wednesday in the South American Cup finals.

A plane carrying 81 people, including members of a Brazilian football team, crashed late Monday near the Colombian city of Medellin, officials said.

The airport that serves Medellin said that among the 72 passengers and nine crew were members of Chapecoense Real, a Brazilian football club that was supposed to play against Colombia's Atletico Nacional Wednesday in the South American Cup finals.

"Confirmed, the aircraft license number CP2933 was carrying the team @ChapecoenseReal. Apparently there are survivors," the Jose Maria Cordova de Rionegro airport said on its Twitter account.

The LAMIA aircraft was flying from Bolivia to Medellin when it crashed in an area called Cerro Gordo about 50 kilometers from the city, Colombia's second largest.

"It appears that the plane ran out of fuel," Elkin Ospina, the mayor of the nearby town of La Ceja, told AFP.

He said authorities were on the scene and hospitals and medical centres were preparing to receive the injured.

On its Twitter account, the Medellin airport said the crash site could only be reached overland because of bad weather in the area.

Colombia's civil aeronautics agency said it had a team at the airport in response to the crash.
A chartered Avro RJ85 plane carrying at least 81 people, including the Chapecoense football team, crashes near Medellín, Colombia. Rescuers report at least six survivors have been found in the wreckage. The 2016 Copa Sudamericana Finals are suspended.