The sports world is suffering a major loss right now with tragedy striking onece again. It is being reported that a plane crash in Colombia has taken the lives of 76 people, including at least 19 members of a Brazilian soccer team.
According to NPR, it is being reported that a plane carrying a Brazilian professional soccer team crashed in the mountains near Medellín, Colombia, late Monday, killing 76 people.
"The British Aerospace 146 aircraft was carrying Brazil's Chapecoense soccer team to a tournament in Medellín, Colombia's second-largest city," John Otis reports. "The plane had departed from the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz but reported an electrical emergency shortly before crashing late Monday night."
The plane contained 81 passengers -- including players, journalists, flight crew and others.
Brazil's Chapecoense soccer team had made quite a name for themsleves with their talent was set to play in one of South America's most prestigious tournaments. The team had been scheduled to play in the Copa Sudamerica finals against Atletico Nacional on Wednesday in Medellin.
USA Today reports that six people initially survived the crash, but one of them died a short time later.
"The pain is terrible. Just as we had made it, I will not say to the top, but to have national prominence, a tragedy like this happens," club vice-president Ivan Tozzo told Globo SportTV. "It is very difficult, a very great tragedy."
Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, the global overseer of the sport known as football around the world, expressed shock and sadness.
"This is a very, very sad day for football," Infantino said. "At this difficult time our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends. FIFA would like to extend its most heartfelt condolences to the fans of Chapecoense, the football community and media organizations concerned in Brazil."
While it is not clear as to why the plane went down, it is being speculated that the aircraft may have run out of fuel.
"What we do know is that when the plane crashed, it broke into two parts and didn't catch fire," Pablo Medina Uribe said. "So that's why one of the theories — the one about the fuel running out — is getting some ground. But we still don't know anything for sure."
Chapecoense defender Alan Ruschel, 27, is currently in stable condition after being pulled from the plane's wreckage, said Alfredo Bocanegra, head of Colombia's civil aeronautics agency. He said two other players, a journalist and flight attendant Ximena Suarez also survived and where taken to nearby hospitals.
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