After combing through the devastating wreckage of a charter plane that crashed in Columbia, 75 people have been confirmed dead, and a sixth survivor was discovered under the aircraft’s fuselage Tuesday morning. Brazilian football team Chapecoense was aboard the plane on their way to compete in the South American Cup finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc-PJdnmHTo
One of the surviving teammates, Alan Ruschel, Instagrammed a photograph with Danilo Padilha, moments before the crash.
TMZ reported that one of the only surviving teammates of the Brazilian football team Chapecoense posted a photograph on Instagram moments before the plane went down. The two teammates were smiling and laughing on the plane right before the tragic crash.
The plane declared emergency between the municipalities of La Ceja and La Union, according to Colombian aviation officials. Officials have no confirmed what happened to the plane as of yet.
Satellite images show scattered storms and thunderstorms moving across the region over the past 12 hours before the crash. There was likely turbulence in the region due to intermittent thunderstorms and winds from around the mountains in the region.
Three Brazilian football teammates, two plane crewman, and one journalist miraculously survived the plane crash. 75 people have been confirmed dead.
Survivor Alan Luciano Ruschel’s wife posted to Instagram to let people know that her husband was hospitalized and in stable condition.
“We are praying for everyone who has not yet been rescued, and for their families.
It is a complicated and difficult situation. Only God can give us strength.”
The Brazilian football team was set to play in the finals of the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday. The team is ninth in Brazil’s Serie A league. ESPNFC called the team’s semifinal contest as a David versus Goliath match.
The team had hoped to become the first Brazilian club to win the South American cup final since 2008, according to Keir Radnedge of World Soccer magazine.
For a city of just over 200,000 inhabitants, the Chapecoense football team was on its way to make history, winning the club’s first-ever major trophy.
“It’s a Cinderella football story. They’ve only been in the top division in Brazil for the last couple of years, and they’ve reached the Copa Sudamericana fina.
“What they have achieved in the last couple of years was just amazing.”
Colombian police confirm that 3 players and 2 passengers have survived the plane crash. The rest have sadly died #RIP #ForçaChape pic.twitter.com/XOpPZ2nZrx
— Now Football (@Now_FootbaIl) November 29, 2016
The Chapecoense board chairman, Plinio David de Nes Filho, teared up as he told Brazil’s TV Globo about their devastating loss.
“The dream was over this morning.
“Yesterday morning I was saying goodbye to them.
“They told me they were going in search of the dream to make this dream a reality.”
Fox Sports expressed their solidarity as six journalists from Fox Sports Brazil were among the 20 journalists on board.
“We express our solidarity and stand with the families of our colleagues from Fox Sports Brazil and of the players for the Chapecoense Club who perished in this tragedy.”
Atletico Nacional tweeted it “deeply regrets and is in solidarity with Chapecoense for the accident that occurred is awaiting for more information from the authorities.”
Nacional lamenta profundamente y se solidariza con @chapecoensereal por el accidente ocurrido y espera información de las autoridades.
— Atlético Nacional (@nacionaloficial) November 29, 2016
Reports say that the Argentina national soccer team flew on the same charter plane just 20 days ago to travel to a match in Brazil.
CNN reported that the sixth survivor was discovered Tuesday morning under the aircraft’s fuselage.
Authorities find a sixth survivor of a plane crash in Colombia. The man was found under the fuselage, official says. https://t.co/34m39HR0UI
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 29, 2016
The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) posted to their website to address the tragedy.
“Few remembered the name of this forgotten team.
“Now the whole continent knows it.”
Brazillian soccer great Pele was among the many athletes and fans expressing their condolences on Tuesday.
“The Brazilian football family is in mourning.
“This is a tragedy. I send my condolences to the families of the deceased. Rest in peace.”
A família de futebol brasileiro está de luto. Isso é uma tragédia. Mando minhas condolências às famílias dos falecidos. Descansem em paz. pic.twitter.com/30mSiChWWC
— Pelé (@Pele) November 29, 2016
The world of sport has joined together in mourning, with Brazil and Barcelona star Neymar and Spanish club Atletico Madrid, which counts former player Cleber Santana as one of the passengers, sent their condolences.
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) November 29, 2016
The Chapoecoense club marked the tragedy by changing its crest from the traditional green colors to black.
— Chapecoense (@ChapecoenseReal) November 29, 2016
The team’s rival clubs, including the Corinthians, offered strength and support.
“Corinthians offers strength to all friends of Chapecoense at this difficult time.”
O Corinthians deseja força aos amigos da @ChapecoenseReal neste momento tão difícil. #ForçaChape
— Corinthians (@Corinthians) November 29, 2016
[Featured Image by Alan Pedro/Stringer/Getty Images]
