THE TOP Brazilian football club wiped out on doomed Flight LMI2933 which crashed in Colombia CHANGED PLANES at the last minute.

Seventy-seven people were killed in what is the deadliest air disaster in the world this year.

22 Workers search the wreckage of Flight LMI2933 which came down in Colombia, killing 76 Credit: AP:Associated Press

22 Credit: MiOriente

Photos from the crash site showed wreckage strewn across the remote area near La Ceja

22 Pictures show debris from the plane crash in Colombia Credit: Twitter

22 The last picture of Brazil's Chapecoense Real football team before the doomed flight took off Credit: Twitter

22 A badge showing the team's logo is apparently found at the scene Credit: Twitter

22 Last picture of the team before boarding Flight LMI2933 Credit: Twitter / Bruno Galvao

Authorities struggled to save six survivors from the crash site near La Ceja, but one died later in hospital.

Police confirmed the shocking death toll after hours of mixed reports suggested there had been dozens of survivors on the flight, which was filled with players and coaches from top-teir side Chapecoense Real.

Treacherous weather conditions severely hampered the rescue operation as ambulances struggled to reach the remote crash site.

Alan Ruschel, a defender on loan to Chapecoense from Internacional, was the first player named as a survivor.

He was taken to hospital with injuries as local emergency services braced for an influx of patients.

A snapchat video showing him with teammate and pal Danilo was posted online just before the crash.

22 Wreckage of Flight LMI2933 which was carrying the Chapecoense team Credit: AP:Associated Press

22 Only six survivors were pulled from the wreckage, and one later died in hospital Credit: Getty Images

22 A survivor is pulled from the crash site in Colombia Credit: Getty Images

22 Supporters of Chapcoense FC gather in the club's home town of Chapeco to grieve Credit: EPA

22 Goalkeeper Jakson Follman was rescued from the rubble alive Credit: Getty Images 22 Fellow goalkeeper Danilo was rescued from the crash site but later died in hospital Credit: Getty Images Confirming his rescue, Ruchel's sister Alissen said on Twitter: "God is great and will look after you. Stay strong. You are a soldier." Player Jakson Follmann, journalist Rafael Hansel, flight attendant Ximena Suarez and technician Erwin Timiri were also named as survivors. There were 72 passengers and nine crew were on board flight LMI2933.

The Brazilian First Division team, who had been described by coach Caio Júnior as "Brazil's Leicester", was on its way to the final of the Copa Sudamericana in Colombia — a game tipped as the biggest in its history.

The club issued a statement shortly after the tragedy, saying: "May God accompany our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests travelling with our delegation."

Among the victims is Paulo Julio Clement, a Fox Sports presenter in Brazil and one of 21 journalists killed in the disaster.

22 Fox Sports presenter Paulo Julio Clement is thought to have been killed in the crash Credit: Fox

22 A selfie of Chapecoense players Danilo and Alan Ruschel on board the plane before the disaster

22 Staff from San Juan de Dios hospital transfer 27-year-old Brazilian soccer player Alan Ruschel as he arrives to La Ceja Credit: EPA

22 The first victim arrives at hospital after only six survivors were pulled from the crash Credit: Twitter

22 An ambulance responds to the plane crash in Colombia as survivors are pulled from the wreckage Credit: Twitter/LaCejadelTambo via Storyful

Ambulance crews ferrying survivors to hospital were only able get to within 30 minutes walking distance of the remote crash site.

Rescuers had to stretcher the survivors on foot through thick fog.

They were then put into lorries and driven another 700 metres to waiting ambulances.

Some of the lorries were getting bogged down in mud making the panicked rescue even more difficult.

Hypothermia was another concern for emergency services rushing to rescue survivors from freezing temperatures of below 5°C.

22 The British Aerospace 146 plane operated by LAMIA that crashed in Colombia Credit: Reuters

22 The plane left Brazil and made a stop in Bolivia before heading to Colombia

22 Chapecoense celebrate after their match against San Lorenzo at the Arena Conda stadium on November 23 Credit: Reuters

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The plane — a British Aerospace 146 aircraft that was built in the UK — crashed at around 10:15pm local time in Cerro Gordo, La Union.

The same airline took the Argentina team with Lionel Messi on board for their last match in Brazil.

It was travelling to José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro, the second largest airport in Colombia.

A statement from the airport said the plane declared an emergency and "electrical failures" after leaving Bolivia, although a cause of the crash is yet to be established.

The 'hero' pilot is reported to have opened the fuel door as the plane crashed to prevent it from going up in flames.

However, a flight attendant has allegedly claimed the plane ran out of fuel, providing another avenue for investigators.

Who was on board Flight LMI2933? THE pilots and cabin crew on board the plane were all Bolivian. Most of the 72 passengers were Brazilian. Around 40 were part of the Chapecoense delegation. They included 20 players, the manager Caio Junior and four other members of his coaching team including an assistant manager, a personal trainer, a kinesiologist and a masseur who is said to be among the survivors. The club’s president and vice-president were also on board along with other club managers. Journalists covering the club were also on board.

22 Chapecoense player Alan Ruschel was the first to arrive at hospital Credit: EPA

The plane started its journey in Sao Paulo, Brazil at 3:35pm local time and made a stop in Santa Cruz de le Sierra, Bolivia, before heading on to Colombia.

Medellin's mayor Federico Gutierrez described the crash as "a tragedy of huge proportions".

A photo emerged showing the team huddling in front of the plane with beaming smiles as they boarded.

The team were also pictured sitting in the cabin shortly before take off, while a video shows players gathering at their departure gate.

It has not yet been become clear why the team changed flights at the last minute to board the doomed plane.

22 Chapecoense before their semi-final victory on 23 November, which put them through to the final in Colombia Credit: EPA

Chapecoense was headed to the Copa Sudamericana finals in Colombia.

They were due to compete against Atlético Nacional at 6:45pm local time on Wednesday at Atanasio Girardot stadium in Medellín.

The team were only about five minutes from their destination when they crashed.

Local radio said the team were due to stay at the four-star Hotel San Fernando, an elegant hotel near Medellin’s Botanical Garden.

South American football confederation CONMEBOL has suspended the tournament.

What do we know about the British Aerospace 146 plane? The British Aerospace 146 plane that crashed on its approach to the airport in the Colombian city of Medellin made its first flight on March 1999. Statistics from planespotters.net show that the regional plane has had several owners since.

From 1999 to 2007, it was owned by Mesaba Aviation in the U.S. before it was transferred.

The plane has been in the hands of Bolivian airline LAMIA since October 2013.

British Aerospace, which is now known as BAE Systems, says that the first 146 plane took off in 1981 and that just under 400 (including its successor Avro RJ) were built in total in the U.K through November 2003.

It says around 220 of are still in service in a variety of roles, including aerial firefighting and overnight freight services.

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