FOOTBALL : CHAPECOENSE - - BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL TEAM ALMOST ENTIRELY WIPED OUT IN TRAGIC PLANE CRASH ! - Sports | Sports 24

FOOTBALL : CHAPECOENSE - - BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL TEAM ALMOST ENTIRELY WIPED OUT IN TRAGIC PLANE CRASH !

The world reels in shock as a charter plane carrying a jubilant, rising Brazilian football team, on its way to the biggest match of their lives, playing in a Cup Championship Finals, crashed on approach in Medellin, Colombia wiping out almost entirely the whole football team, including 20 journalists on board.

Of the 77 people aboard the ill-fated plane, 71 were killed, 6 miraculously survived.

The football team lost 19 players.

The team, Chapecoense, also known for its acronym ACF (Associação Chapecoense de Futebol) is a popularly rising Brazilian football club, based in the small city of Chapecó in Brazil.

Just days ago, the whole city was extremely overjoyed after Chapecoense, having the most glorious moments in their history, won the Semi Finals and will go through the Championship Finals of the Copa Sudamericana (South American Cup) -- the second most prestigious football tournament in South America.

Chapecoense was to face the opposing team Atletico Nacional of Medellin, Colombia in the Finals.

Then, tragedy strikes.

The plane carrying the team, management, staff, journalists who were to cover the momentous match, and crew, -- all in a high celebratory mood inside the aircraft -- slammed on a mountainside as they approached Medellin.

Some of the players were even happily and playfully Instagramming, moments before the tragedy.

The pilot repeatedly reported 'electrical failure' and 'lack of fuel' before the plane went down.

News of the tragic disaster sent shock waves to the world of football - and beyond.

Thousands of football fans in Brazil and millions around the world, paid tribute to the fallen athletes.

Brazil has declared 3 days of national mourning, following the tragedy.

pic.twitter.com/uvxe0jm1kA
— Chapecoense (@ChapecoenseReal) November 29, 2016

The @AeropuertoMDE confirms LAMIA Bolivia RJ85, registration CP-2933 has crashed near Medellin, Colombia. https://t.co/ayIDZCJVZs pic.twitter.com/GUzZcwHkwo
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 29, 2016

Que essa seja a última imagem dos nosso guerreiros.#ForçaChape pic.twitter.com/Q1ZxF5h4sV
— Chapecoense (@ChapecoenseReal) November 29, 2016

"Let this be the last image of our warriors. - - CHAPECOENSE"

Almost an entire football team from Brazil have been killed in a plane crash in Colombia.
Full details: https://t.co/mLTKHvYFyK pic.twitter.com/TPc8btRVjy
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2016

FIFA's thoughts are with the victims, their families, fans of Chapecoense & media organisations in Brazil on this tragic day. #ForçaChape pic.twitter.com/plDFRYqteo
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) November 29, 2016

Colombia aviation spokeswoman updates death toll from Monday's plane crash to 71. Initial reports had 75 dead. https://t.co/Z1YnFLB1YS pic.twitter.com/GoKesDBeYw
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 29, 2016

Colombian Military Recover Bodies from the CHAPECOENSE Crash Site.

Football has been stunned by the death of almost the entire Chapecoense team. https://t.co/rpT4JbdsYI
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2016

Breaking: Colombian police say 76 killed in plane crash, including members of a Brazilian soccer team https://t.co/cDq3f9Tplq
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) November 29, 2016

They were on their way to their 'biggest ever game'.

Almost the entire team never came back.

Absolutely tragic: https://t.co/hEyORNQM4C pic.twitter.com/CvDESayH1e
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2016

Colombia Plane Crash -- Soccer Team Instagrammed Before Crash ... Tragic Last Moments (Video) https://t.co/Fk4HoNhuLl
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) November 29, 2016

Colombian aviation authorities say 20 journalists among those killed in plane crash near Medellin - AP https://t.co/KRrozWb1Dr
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) November 29, 2016

Goalkeeper Marcos Danilo Padilha dies while being transferred to hospital after plane crash in Colombia - official https://t.co/TzXDL3UDUc pic.twitter.com/dTnL60M75q
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 29, 2016

Black boxes from plane that crashed in Colombia have been found, according to civil aviation authority https://t.co/34m39I8BMg pic.twitter.com/vG3vnpwH7U
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 29, 2016

Authorities find a sixth survivor of a plane crash in Colombia. The man was found under the fuselage, official says. https://t.co/34m39HR0UI
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 29, 2016

Chapecoense's opponents, Atlético Nacional, want the title to be awarded to the Brazilian side. https://t.co/rcFZZhehed
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2016

"Please pray for my teammates."
These are the stories of the Chapecoense players who didn't travel to Colombiahttps://t.co/nYUF1K9ugi pic.twitter.com/EtsDbK4wdV
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2016

Presidente de la CONMEBOL expresa sus más sentidas condolencias: https://t.co/6nfZaRsQWb pic.twitter.com/5SQ4TLURg8
— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) November 29, 2016

"CONMEBOL expresses its deepest condolences."

The thoughts of everyone at Manchester United are with @ChapecoenseReal & all those affected by the tragedy in Colombia.#ForçaChapecoense pic.twitter.com/EUjAnJQkaB
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 29, 2016

On board was football team Chapecoense, which was due to play in the South American Cup Finals on Wednesday. https://t.co/kswfVLjw3r
— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) November 29, 2016

Just five days ago, Chapecoense were celebrating reaching the final of the Copa Sudamericana https://t.co/xOd5ZjuvRM
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2016

.@jonawils on the storied rise of Brazilian club Chapecoense and the horrifying tragedy it must now endure https://t.co/N1vk3ZsKgt pic.twitter.com/L51Z2DvrX4
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 30, 2016

Eternos Campeões - #ForçaChape https://t.co/u5H9lRIxTb
— Chapecoense (@ChapecoenseReal) November 29, 2016

"Eternal Champions. - - CHAPECOENSE"

Thousands of Chapecoense fans fill streets, cathedrals and stadium for vigils after plane crash kills 71 https://t.co/dmS9gc5Vry pic.twitter.com/VHhK4ArjKa
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) November 30, 2016

The stories of the Chapecoense players who didn't travel to Colombia https://t.co/nYUF1K9ugi pic.twitter.com/ttBMUrK26y
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2016

Just six survivors from 77 passengers.

How the world is rallying around Chapecoense after a tragic plane crash https://t.co/KoLCJocJ6S pic.twitter.com/NkkBGIDt7i
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2016

The Brazilian Football Confederation has announced a seven-day mourning period after the Chapecoense tragedy. https://t.co/hEyORNzaG2 pic.twitter.com/3Opc25ZiVB
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2016

Rio's Christ the Redeemer lit in Chapecoense's team colors as mass is held beneath famous statue to honor the dead. https://t.co/vfKDH0iyfr pic.twitter.com/VSm9TZKgij
— ABC News (@ABC) November 30, 2016

Atletico Nacional say Chapecoense will forever be 2016 Copa Sudamericana champions. #ForçaChape pic.twitter.com/OaZKy7j0aY
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) November 30, 2016

Real Madrid's minute silence is just one of many moving tributes dedicated to Chapecoense: https://t.co/k2vs5fqYEF pic.twitter.com/UyvboQ9UHM
— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) November 29, 2016

"This was South America's Cinderella -- nobody could have predicted this macabre ending." https://t.co/3l2RvLn6uQ
— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) November 29, 2016

Brazil's Neymar and Spanish club Atletico Madrid lead tributes to #Chapecoense after plane crash. https://t.co/k2vs5fqYEF
— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) November 29, 2016

Eternos Campeões! #ForçaChape
A video posted by Chapecoense (@chapecoensereal) on Nov 29, 2016 at 2:32pm PST

"Chapecoense -- Eternal Champions."

Os pensamentos da FIFA estão com as vítimas, suas famílias, torcedores da Chapecoense e meios de comunicação brasileiros neste dia trágico. #ForçaChape FIFA's thoughts are with the victims, their families, fans of Chapecoense & media organisations in Brazil on this tragic day.
A photo posted by FIFAWORLDCUP (@fifaworldcup) on Nov 29, 2016 at 3:07am PST

Tomorrow night, Chapecoense were due to play in Medellin. After today's tragedy, their opponents are inviting all fans to their stadium, dressed in white, and with a white candle, as a symbol of solidarity. #ForçaChape #Repost @nacionaloficial ・・・ Mañana 6:45 p.m. todos juntos al estadio vestidos de blanco y con un vela blanca en símbolo de solidaridad #FuerzaChapecoense
A photo posted by FIFAWORLDCUP (@fifaworldcup) on Nov 29, 2016 at 7:53am PST

Mi pésame a los seres queridos de jugadores, técnicos, personal del equipo y periodistas fallecidos. DEP. #ForzaChapecoense #Chapecoense
A photo posted by Lucas Pérez (@10lp) on Nov 29, 2016 at 12:41pm PST

Así quedó el avión en el que viajaban los miembros del equipo brasileño #Chapecoense y que se estrelló anoche en Colombia. 75 de las 81 personas que iban a bordo han muerto, según las autoridades. 📸 by Raúl Arboleda/Getty
A photo posted by Primer Impacto (@primerimpacto) on Nov 29, 2016 at 7:20am PST

#chapecoense #chapecoense💚 🙏🙏🙇
A photo posted by Agustin Lopez (@tin555) on Nov 29, 2016 at 9:03pm PST

Kecelakaan pesawat tim sepak bola untuk kesekian kalinya setelah: 1. Basilica superga, Turin, Italia 1949 (Club Torino) 2. Muenchen, Jerman 1958 (Club Manchester utd) 3. Samudera Pasific 1987 (Club Alianza Lima,Peru) 4. Samudera Atlantik 1993 (Timnas Zambia) #respect #chapecoense #footballclub #squad
A photo posted by Fandy Nuary (@fandy_nuary) on Nov 29, 2016 at 9:02pm PST

El mundo en un solo color. 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚 #fuerzachapecoense #chapecoense #sabiasquep_
A photo posted by 🌎🌏🌍¿Sabias Que?🌎🌏🌍 (@sabiasquep_) on Nov 29, 2016 at 6:16pm PST

A broken plane, A broken dream, A broken heart, A broken team, No word said, A silent vow, We loved you then, We love you now. R.I.P 💔 #footballislife #footballfamily #chapecoense #sudamerica
A photo posted by Frank filMart Mluge (@92kimosabe) on Nov 29, 2016 at 9:01pm PST

Rest In Peace 🙏💚👏 #ForçaChape #ForçaChapecoense #Brasilian #Chapecoense
A video posted by Irene Hygea Paundanan (@irenepaundanan99) on Nov 29, 2016 at 9:00pm PST