A soccer player who survived a plane crash that killed 71 people in Colombia's worst air disaster in decades has had one of his legs amputated and remains in a critical condition in hospital, but his family says it is a miracle he is still alive.

Reserve goalkeeper Jackson Follmann, 24, was one of only six survivors on board the charter plane that crashed into the mountains outside Medellin about 10.15pm on Monday, local time, shortly after reporting electrical problems.

Follmann and two of his teammates - defenders Alan Ruschel and Hélio Neto - were the only members of the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense - including its players, coaches and staff - who survived the crash in the remote area south of Medellin.

Also among the survivors was journalist Rafael Valmorbida, Bolivian flight attendant Ximena Suarez and Bolivian flight technician Erwin Tumiri, Colombia's civil aviation authority said.