An airplane carrying coaches, players and team personnel of the Brazilian soccer club Chapecoense, as well as journalists, crashed Monday night, killing at least 75 on board.
Eighty-one people were reportedly on the aircraft that was en route to Medellin, Columbia.
According to El Tiempo, a Columbian newspaper, 22 players were on board. Only three players were confirmed to have survived the crash.
The soccer world is in a collective state of shock, mourning the tragic loss.
Brazilian football is in mourning. It is such a tragic loss. My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/jfoTMUBWtN
— Pelé (@Pele) November 29, 2016
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) November 29, 2016
Minhas orações aos jogadores do Chapecoense 🙏🏾 Mes prières aux footballeurs du Chapecoense 🙏🏾 my prayers to Chapecoense players #forçachape pic.twitter.com/2fwh532xmT
— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) November 29, 2016
Members of the team that did not travel returned to their Chapecoense locker room.
Desolación total en el vestuario de Chapecoense. Los jugadores que no hicieron el viaje, devastados. Qué jornada tan jodida. pic.twitter.com/acgTMar1oC
— Invictos (@InvictosSomos) November 29, 2016
Fans of the club held a moment of silence outside of the stadium, taking part in prayer. The crowd then gave a round of applause for the fallen team.
Centenas de torcedores cercam estádio da Chapecoense e rezam. Siga a cobertura minuto a minuto em https://t.co/GPBOIwqgHN #forçachape pic.twitter.com/Ee2yWyTZmA
— Folha de S.Paulo (@folha) November 29, 2016
Chapecoense was set to play Columbian club Atletico Nacional in the first leg of the South American Cup final. Atletico Nacional has requested to give Chapecoense the championship.
Um minuto de silêncio para estas pessoas com que compartilhamos um sonho, uma dor e solidariedade. #EstamosConChapecoense pic.twitter.com/b4C95ferpS
— Atlético Nacional (@nacionaloficial) November 29, 2016
Chapecoense was enjoying an improbable run at the end of the season. The team finished ninth in Brazil’s Serie A league. They were seeking to become the first Brazilian team to win the championship since 2008.
“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 final,” author Keir Radnedge of World Soccer magazine told CNN. “What they have achieved in the last couple of years was just amazing.”
Other clubs within Brazil’s Serie A league have requested that Chapecoense be given immunity from relegation for the next three seasons, and clubs have even offered players to loan to the club for free, according to Independent.
The plane is believed to have crashed due to an electrical failure.
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