A plane carrying 81 passengers crashes in Colombia

Tuesday, Nov 29, 2016

A plane carrying 72 passengers -- including members of a Brazilian soccer team -- and nine crew members crashed near Rionegro, Colombia, according to the country's civil aviation department.

The accident happened in an area called Cerro El Gordo near Medellin, the department said.

The plane declared an emergency between the municipalities of La Ceja and La Union, according to a statement from Colombian aviation officials.

The civil aviation agency announced that six passengers -- three players, two crew members, and one journalist -- survived the crash.

The aviation department's statement said that passengers belonged to a Brazilian soccer team called Chapecoense.

Tattered debris emblazoned with the club's logo was also photographed at the crash site.

Chapecoense was due to play the Colombian club team Atletico Nacional in the the first leg of the South American cup Finals on Wednesday.