Colombia plane crash live: Rescuers find survivors among wreckage

Seven of the 81 on board were pulled out alive - but one later died in hospital

Colombia crash: 76 dead after plane carrying Brazilian football team crashes

Officials say six survivors have been rescued from the wreckage of a chartered plane carrying 81 people, including the squad of a top Brazilian football team, which crashed outside the Colombian city of Medellin.

Latest updates:

• Plane carrying 81 crashes in the mountains
• Plane was carrying team of Chapecoense Real
• 75 people have been killed
• Six people survived
• Authorities investigating whether plane crashed due to electrical failure or ran out of fuel

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The crash occurred amid poor weather conditions as the plane was on its way to the city's international airport, and the country's civil aviation authority said ambulances and emergency workers had arrived at the scene.

Local authorities said there appeared to be survivors, and confirmed the plane was a chartered flight carrying the team of Chapecoense Real for the final of a regional tournament.

The British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane, operated by a charter airline named LaMia, declared an emergency at 10pm Monday (0300 GMT) because of an electrical failure.

"It's a tragedy of huge proportions," Medellin Mayor Federico Gutierrez told Blu Radio on his way to the site in a mountainous area outside the city where aircraft crashed.

The aircraft, which made a stop in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, was transporting the first division Chapecoense soccer team from southern Brazil. The team was scheduled to play Wednesday in the first of a two-game Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional of Medellin.

"May God accompany our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests traveling with our delegation," the club said in a brief statement on its Facebook page.

South America's soccer federation extended its condolences to the entire Chapecoense community and said its president, Luis Dominguez, was on his way to Medellin. All soccer activities were suspended until further notice, the organisation said in a statement.

[29 November 2016 10:38 · Samuel Osborne]

The head of Colombia's civil aviation agency has said authorities aren't ruling out the possibility the chartered flight ran out of fuel before crashing.

But for now, the main line of investigation is a possible electrical failure aboard the aircraft. 

Alfredo Bocanegra, speaking from the rescue command center, said communication with Bolivian aviation officials suggested the plane was experiencing electrical problems. 

At the same time, investigators will have to evaluate reported testimony from a female flight attendant who said the plane had run out of fuel. 

[29 November 2016 10:46 · Samuel Osborne]

[29 November 2016 10:58 · Samuel Osborne]

Local media is reporting a sixth survivor has been pulled from the crash. They are said to be another Chapecoense player.

[29 November 2016 11:05 · Samuel Osborne]

Colombia's disaster management authority says it is not ruling out the possibility other passengers may have survived after a sixth survivor was found.

[29 November 2016 11:23 · Samuel Osborne]

The Chapecoense football team has changed the colour of their badge from green to black, the colour of mourning. 

[29 November 2016 11:27 · Samuel Osborne]

Colombian news site MiOriente has released footage of a sixth survivor being taken away from the crash site.

[29 November 2016 12:01 · Samuel Osborne]

A Reuters photographer at the scene has described the crash site.

He said dozens of bodies were laid out and covered with sheets around the wreckage as some 30 rescuers, police and military personnel searched the crash site of the plane that had had 81 people aboard.

He said the BAe 146 charter aircraft had split in two with only the nose and wings recognizable and the tail end completely destroyed in the crash on Monday night.

[29 November 2016 12:06 · Samuel Osborne]

[29 November 2016 12:20 · Samuel Osborne]

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said today is a "very, very sad day for football".

In a statement, Mr Infantino said: "We are so sorry to hear about the airplane crash in Colombia, it is shocking and tragic news. At this difficult time our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends." 

[29 November 2016 12:29 · Samuel Osborne]

Goalkeeper Marcos Danilo Padilha, who initially survived the crash, had died, a Brazilian football club spokesman confirmed to the Associated Press.