Image: AFP
The plane (CP2933) carrying 72 passengers and 9 crew members was flying from Bolivia. Reports say that the plane crashed in a mountainous area outside the city shortly before midnight local time (5am GMT). The cause of the crash is still uncertain but it appeared that the weather was poor in the area. Bad weather conditions have also made the crash site accessible only by road.This tweet from Flightradar shows the plane's flight path before the crash.
The football team was due to play in the finals of Copa Sudamerica (South American Cup) against Medellin team Atletico Nacional. The match was scheduled for 30 November, with the second leg back in Brazil on 7 December. The final has now been suspended in light of the incident.Airport authorities state 72 passengers from Chapecoense football team and 9 crew onboard #LMI2933. https://t.co/ayIDZCJVZs pic.twitter.com/HwgVWg5e9w
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 29, 2016
Medellin’s Mayor Federico Gutierrez described it as “a tragedy of huge proportions”.