75 Dead in Brazil’s Chapecoense Soccer Team Plane Crash

The sports world endured a horrible tragedy late on Monday, when news broke that Brazil’s Chapecoense soccer team’s plane had crashed.

Horrifying Tragedy

Chapecoense was en route to Medellin to play in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final, which was slated against Atletico Nacional and to be played on Wednesday.

Per reports, Chapecoense’s plane crashed after an electrical fault late on Monday night, killing an estimated 75 people on board. There are six known survivors.

Chapecoense was set to participate in the Copa Sudamericana final, which was set to be the franchise’s biggest game in club history.

Their opponent, Atletico Nacional, has responded graciously in wake of the tragic news, offering to relinquish the default Copa Sudamericana title to Chapecoense:

Atlético Nacional, who were the other finalists in the Copa Sudamericana, have requested that trophy be awarded to Chapecoense.
PURE CLASS.

— Spencer FC (@SpencerOwen) November 29, 2016

The class, respect and love in pro soccer isn’t ending there, as it may not even come to a handed out title if other clubs get their wish to loan out their own players for free so can continue on and compete for the title they rightfully earned to play for:

Brazilian clubs have also said they will loan players for free to Chapecoense so they can continue as a club. Football’s pulling together.

— UNILAD Football (@UNILADFooty) November 29, 2016

It remains to be determined precisely what will happen on the field for Chapecoense as a club.

The news is all too fresh for Chapecoense to spend too much time thinking about their playing future, while still in shock of the plane crash and 75 deaths that followed.

Worst Colombian Disaster

The Chapecoense plane crash may go down as the worst Colombia air disaster in over two decades, which was carrying 72 passengers and nine crew members on board.

The crash marked Colombia’s worst air accident since 160 passengers were killed on an American Airlines flight in 1995 near Cali.

Per reports, 21 journalists were among the flight passengers. Of the six survivors, three were Chapecoense players:

Three Chapecoense players: Alan Luciano Ruschel (pictured), Marcos Danilo Padilha and Jacson Ragnar Follmann are among the five survivors pic.twitter.com/CsjqThDZ4R

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) November 29, 2016

In Mourning

While the pro soccer world was preparing for another huge final and a competitive atmosphere on Wednesday, they’ll instead be mourning one of the biggest sports tragedies we’ve seen in history.

This tragedy hits close to home for numerous athletes around the globe, as all sports tend to use planes for cross-country flights. The risk is always known, but few expect a plane crash to actually occur.

With the shock and horror of the Chapecoense plane crash, Brazil has called for three days of mourning.

Soccer expressed it’s sorrow globally, as well, as numerous matches have been cancelled out of respect. Brazil President Michel Temer made a statement expressing his thoughts on the tragedy:

“I express my solidarity in this sad hour during which tragedy has beset dozens of Brazilian families”.

The tragedy wasn’t lost on Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, either, who tweeted out his condolences:

Una tragedia que nos enluta. Lamentamos accidente de avión que transportaba a #Chapecoense. Solidaridad con familia de víctimas y con Brasil pic.twitter.com/AC3hx3jWDl

— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos) November 29, 2016

FIFA also chimed in on the horrific news:

“{Our} thoughts were with the victims, their families, fans of Chapecoense and media organisations in Brazil on this tragic day.”

The open expression of sadness and respect over a fantastic soccer club wasn’t lost on their fans. Hundreads of Chapecoense fans reportedly huddled near the team’s Conda Stadium in Chapeco in support.