Story highlights 71 people died in Colombia plane crash

Six survivors pulled from the wreckage

(CNN) Four people who were due to board the plane that crashed, killing 71 people in Colombia, have revealed how last-minute changes stopped them from getting on the flight.

The Lamia 2933 flight, carrying Brazilian football team Chapecoense, crashed late Monday near Medellin. Six of the 77 people on board survived.

Gelson Merisio, a state legislator for Santa Catarina and an ardent fan of the Brazilian club, planned to travel with the players to watch them take on Atletico Nacional in the first leg of its Copa Sudamericana final.

Gelson Merisio visted the team's stadium to pay his respects.

Merisio, 50, had been looking forward to the game only to switch his plans late on because of work commitments.

"I want to be clear, that while I was scheduled to fly on the plane with the team, I opted not to do it due to work obligations this week," he wrote in a statement on Facebook.