On November 28, 2016, a heart-wrenching tragedy struck the world of football when Flight LMI2933, carrying Brazil’s beloved Chapecoense Real football team, crashed into the rugged mountains near La Ceja, Colombia, claiming 76 lives. The doomed flight, which had been switched at the last minute, was en route to Medellín for what was set to be the most significant match in the club’s history—the final of the Copa Sudamericana. The catastrophic crash, the deadliest air disaster of 2016, left only five survivors and plunged Brazil into mourning for its cherished team, often hailed as “Brazil’s Leicester” for their underdog spirit.
The British Aerospace 146, operated by Bolivian airline LaMia, carried 72 passengers and nine crew members, including 40 members of the Chapecoense delegation. Among them were 20 players, head coach Caio Júnior, his coaching staff, club president, vice-president, and other officials. Also on board were 21 journalists, including Fox Sports presenter Paulo Julio Clement, all eager to cover the historic match against Atlético Nacional. The plane departed São Paulo, Brazil, at 3:35 PM local time on November 28, 2016, stopping in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, before continuing its ill-fated journey to José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro, Colombia.
Just five minutes from their destination, at around 10:15 PM local time, the plane slammed into Cerro Gordo in La Union. Initial reports cited an emergency declaration due to “electrical failures,” but a chilling claim from a surviving flight attendant suggested the plane may have run out of fuel. The pilot’s heroic act of opening the fuel door during the crash was believed to have prevented a fiery explosion, yet it could not avert the devastating loss.
Rescue operations faced harrowing challenges as treacherous weather and the remote crash site hindered efforts on that fateful night. Thick fog, freezing temperatures below 5°C, and muddy terrain made the site nearly inaccessible. Ambulances could only get within 30 minutes’ walking distance, forcing rescuers to carry survivors on stretchers through the mire. Some lorries transporting the injured became bogged down, complicating the frantic race against time. Hypothermia posed an additional threat as emergency crews battled to save lives.
Of the six initial survivors, only five survived the night. Defender Alan Ruschel, on loan from Internacional, was the first player identified, rushed to a hospital with injuries. His sister, Alissen, took to Twitter, proclaiming, “God is great and will look after you. Stay strong. You are a soldier.” Other survivors included player Jakson Follmann, journalist Rafael Hansel, flight attendant Ximena Suarez, and technician Erwin Timiri. Tragically, one survivor succumbed to injuries in the hospital, leaving the football world grappling with the scale of the loss.
Chapecoense Real, a first-division Brazilian club, had risen to prominence with their remarkable journey, drawing comparisons to Leicester City’s fairy-tale Premier League victory. The team’s ascent to the Copa Sudamericana final was a testament to their grit and determination. A haunting photo captured the players’ beaming smiles as they huddled in front of the plane before boarding on November 28, 2016, unaware of the tragedy that awaited. A Snapchat video posted by Ruschel and teammate Danilo, along with footage of the team at the departure gate, now serves as a poignant reminder of their camaraderie and hope.
The club’s statement reflected their anguish: “May God accompany our athletes, officials, journalists, and other guests traveling with our delegation.” The decision to change flights at the last minute remained a mystery, deepening the sense of a cruel twist of fate. The same airline had recently transported the Argentine national team, including Lionel Messi, for a match in Brazil, adding to the shock of its catastrophic failure.
Medellín’s mayor, Federico Gutierrez, called the crash “a tragedy of huge proportions.” The team was set to stay at the elegant four-star Hotel San Fernando near Medellín’s Botanical Garden and play at the Atanasio Girardot stadium on November 30, 2016. In response to the disaster, the South American football confederation CONMEBOL suspended the tournament, and tributes poured in from around the globe.
As investigators probed the cause—whether electrical failure, fuel exhaustion, or another factor—the loss of Chapecoense’s players, staff, and accompanying journalists left an indelible mark. The football world mourned not just a team, but a dream cut short, forever etched in memory as the curse of the fatal flight on that tragic night of November 28, 2016.