Colombia plane crash – what happened to flight LMI2933, where is Medellin and what do we know?
A PLANE carrying more than 80 people on board crashed in Columbia with authorities rushing to the wreckage to save survivors.
The crash is feared to have killed at least 75 of the 72 passengers and nine crew, including members of Brazil’s Chapecoense Real football team who were travelling on the British Aerospace 146 short-haul aircraft when it plunged from the air.
But as authorities scramble to the site to rescue survivors, questions are now being raised over what happened to LMI2933.
What happened to the flight that crashed in Colombia?
The LAMIA Bolivia RJ85 flight, licence number CP2933, crashed outside of Medellin about midnight local time (0500 GMT).
The LMI2933 flight had taken off from Sao Paulo at 3.35pm local time, stopping in at Santa Cruz de le Sierra in Bolivia.
From there, it travelled on to Colombia where it crashed just outside of Medellin.
While it is not clear what happened to cause the flight to crash, there have been differing reports or a technical fault and lack of fuel.
The flight, followed on a variety of tracking websites, could be seen to circle several times before it disappeared.
Where is Medellin?
Medellin is the capital of Colombia's Antioquia province, with the area known for its mountains.
The area, which has a population of more than 2 million people, is the second-largest city in Colombia.
Who was on board the flight?
Around 72 passengers, including Brazil’s Chapecoense Real football, were on board the flight, as well as 9 crew members.
Most recent figures released have suggested at least 25 people were killed in the crash - with the death toll threatening to reach 75.
At least six survivors have reportedly been rescued from the site.
saying all activities of the confederation were suspended until further notice.
What is being done to rescue survivors?
The official Twitter of Andres Julian Rendon Cardona, the area's mayor, said that an emergency network was activated after the flight was reported down.
Rescue teams including fire fighters rushed to the scene but the search was suspended due to heavy rain.
Locals have been warned not to approach the site.
What other sports teams have been involved in plane crashes?
The Munich air disaster
The Munich air disaster saw 23 of the 44 people on board killed when a British European Airways flight 609 crashed.
Members of the Manchester United football team were on the plane when the plane tried to take off, with the aircraft hitting slush on the runway and torn to pieces.
After extensive air crash investigations, it was found that the crash was caused by the runway slush.
The Superga air disaster
A plane carrying the entire Torino football team crashed into a retaining wall, killing everyone of the 31 passengers and crew on board.
The tragedy, on May 4 1949, occurred when the Fiat G.212 of the Italian Airlines crashed on landing.
The 1972 Andes flight disaster
A chartered flight, carrying 45 people including the Uruguay rugby team, crashed in the Andes on October 13, 1972.
While a number of people were killed instantly in the crash, others died from the extreme cold and harsh conditions.
Another eight were killed in an avalanche in the days after the horrific crash.
Those who managed to survive the conditions were faced with starvation, forced to turn to cannibalism to survive.
It wasn't until two months after the disaster that the last 16 survivors were rescued.
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