Colombia crashed plane “had no fuel”

The LaMia airlines plane that crashed near Medellín killing 71 people may have run out of fuel leading to an electrical systems failure.

Six people on the flight chartered by Brazilian football club Chapecoense survived the crash. The top-flight soccer team was flying to Colombia to take part in a Copa Sudamericana match against local side Atlético Nacional.

The BAe 146/Avro RJ85 plane operated by Bolivian airline LaMia crashed at about 22:15 (10.15pm) local time as it approached José María Córdova Airport in Medellín. It was flying from the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

An audio tape of the last conversations between the pilots and the control tower leaked to local media indicated a loss of fuel. The pilot was heard saying the aircraft had suffered a “total failure, total electrical failure, without fuel.” He requested permission to make an emergency landing.

The aircraft crashed shortly after into rough terrain which hampered the rescue effort. Three Chapecoense players, a journalist and two crew members survived.

The flight data and cockpit voice recorders were recovered and appeared to be in good condition, rescue services said.

Crash investigators from Brazil and Colombia were due to be joined by the UK’s Air Accident Investigation Branch, the US National Transportation Safety Board, and Bolivian officials.

One of the areas which will be examined is the maximum range of the aircraft, which appears to be less than the flight distance, according to aviation experts. A lack of fuel would lead to a rapid electrical systems failure.