Plane Carrying 81, Including Brazilian Soccer Team, Crashes Near Medellin, Colombia

Emergency responders are conducting search and rescue operations for survivors after a plane carrying 72 passengers and 9 crew members, including members of a Brazilian club soccer team, crashed near Jose Maria Cordova International Airport in Medellin, Colombia late Monday night.

Colombian authorities are confirming at least six survivors.

The plane was due to arrive in Medellin from Bolivia, the airport's official Twitter account confirmed, adding that the plane suffered an electrical failure before the accident.

The team, Chapecoense, was due to play against Medellin’s Atletico Nacional in the finals of the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday, local media reported.

Aerocivil, Colombia’s civil aviation authority, confirmed the accident and said that emergency responders were working to transport injured passengers to receive medical assistance.

Airport officials say that the accident site can only be accessed by ground transportation because of the weather conditions.The accident took place near the town of La Unión, in the mountainous department of Antioquia.

The mayor of the nearby city of Rionegro said in a tweet that authorities are coordinating the search and rescue operations from the airport in Medellin.