A plane carrying 72 people, and a South American football team has crashed in the fabled city of Medellin, in Colombia. The Medellin international airport has confirmed that the aircraft experienced a serious emergency situation on its way to the city.
The flight was transporting the Brazilian side Chapecoense when it seemingly disappeared off the radar. The club is thought to have been heading to the final of the South American football championship.
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The team were expected to play in the Copa Sudamerica finals against Atletico Nacional on Wednesday in Colombia.
“It’s a tragedy of huge proportions,” Gutierrez told Blu Radio, as the mayor made his way to the crash site, expected to be in a mountainous area outside the city. He said ambulances and rescuers were on their way, but it is still not clear what caused the crash. Medellin's Mayor Federico Gutierrez says that it is indeed possible that there are survivors.
The club earlier posted a photo of the team boarding the plane.
The first leg of the Suda America finals was expected to take place on Wednesday in Medellin, with the return leg on the 7th of December. Their opponents Atletico Nacional had previously enquired if they could play the second leg on either the 3rd or 4th of December, due to their contention in the Club World Cup and the need to travel to Japan.
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The Copa Sudamericana is the second-most prestigious club competition in South American football. Boca Juniors have been the most successful club in the competition, having won it twice back-to-back in 2004 and 2005.
However, football will be last on the mind of these teams, and we at Sportskeeda pray for the bereaved families and hope that there are survivors from this horrible crash. A disaster of this proportion can cripple plenty of lives, and the football club Chapecoense will have to dig deep and stay strong through this moment of strife and tragedy.
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