Chapecoense plane crash tragedy

Luis Taint

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Apr 7, 2012
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The plane carrying Brazilian soccer club Chapocoense crashed in Medellin. They were on their way to play for the championship.
 

Titans Bastard

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Jesus.




This has to be the worst such disaster in soccer since the Zambian national team in the early 1990s, no?
 

ypioca

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Apr 18, 2007
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This is horrific.

I live in Santa Catarina, where they're from, and not only was Chape already the top team in the state, they were well on the way to becoming a contender nationally, having ascended from the 3rd division four years ago, and exceeding expectations every year since, culminating in the Sulamericana final they were on their way to. They were the biggest Cinderella sports story in Brazil in this decade - a team that rose through the ranks so quickly, that there was no time for any rivalries to form. Even here in the capital, where the other major SC teams are, there was a real sense of joy seeing Chape defy logic and, year after year, reach increasing levels of success.

And now they're gone. We're all just stunned.
 
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dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
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It's unbelievable. I was not up on the Chape story, but for what they had accomplished - prudent fiscal management (in Brazil!), foresight in building the organization, re-promotion, cinderella results in Sudamericana and apparently a hugely proud community - this is just a stunningly tragic blow.
 

rodderick

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This is horrific.

I live in Santa Catarina, where they're from, and not only was Chape already the top team in the state, they were well on the way to becoming a contender nationally, having ascended from the 3rd division four years ago, and exceeding expectations every year since, culminating in the Sulamericana final they were on their way to. They were the biggest Cinderella sports story in Brazil in this decade - a team that rose through the ranks so quickly, that there was no time for any rivalries to form. Even here in the capital, where the other major SC teams are, there was a real sense of joy seeing Chape defy logic and, year after year, reach increasing levels of success.

And now they're gone. We're all just stunned.
I could barely work today. Honestly had to fight back tears at times, just a horrific tragedy all around. I just keep remembering that game against San Lorenzo, Danilo's miracle save at the last second to qualify Chape for the finals, and the sheer ecstasy that overcame the whole team at the final whistle. Fuck, this has hit me so hard, I can't even imagine what the victims' families are going through. Everyone in the country was rooting for them, they were probably the most likeable team that has come up in Brazil in decades, it's impossible to simply accept that this has really happened.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Atletico Nacional, the Colombian team that Chapocoense were on their way to play in the final of Copa Sudamericana, have asked CONMEBOL to award the title to Chapocoense.

Some top Brazilian clubs have said they want to offer players on a free loan for the 2017 season, and think that Chapocoense should be exempt from relegation for 3 years to allow them to recover (they are safe this year, in 9th place with one game to go).
 

moly99

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I have been on an Alaskan bush plane that ran out of fuel. In terms of fear it was significantly worse than being charged by a grizzly, but not close to as bad as almost drowning.

The word from one of the survivors is that many of the players were frantically running around the plane in a panic. The survivor was buckled in and braced for impact, which is why he made it.
 

NDame616

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Jul 31, 2006
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Is it possible they had a total electrical loss and THEN pilot decided to dump the gas to avoid an explosion at impact?
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
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I don't know anything about the Medellin club. What was the mood going into the final - mutual respect? animosity? contempt for the minnow? lack of privity? something else? Who are their supporters - long-suffering underdogs, pink hats, ultras, ???
 

Titans Bastard

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I don't know anything about the Medellin club. What was the mood going into the final - mutual respect? animosity? contempt for the minnow? lack of privity? something else? Who are their supporters - long-suffering underdogs, pink hats, ultras, ???
I can't speak for their fans, but Atlético Nacional are the reigning South American champions, having won Libertadores in July. In 2015, they played 48 domestic league games and qualified (somehow) for both Libertadores and Sudamericana (so I guess UEFA teams can STFU about fixture congestion!). They won Libertadores back in 1989, too, and have 15 domestic titles, though some of them are split-season titles common to Latin American countries.

They have the most titles in Colombia, though if you discount the split-season titles (format switched in the early 2000s), Millonarios and América de Cali would have more.
 

Senator Donut

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Atlético Nacional were prominently featured in 30 for 30's the Two Escobars. Andres Escobar was a star for the club and they were alleged to have been funded by the cartels when the won Libertadores in 1989. The film also accused them of bribing and intimidating referees.
 

santadevil

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Plane couldn't get to a refueling station earlier in the flight because it was closed at night.

Ended up flying a holding pattern and circling as another plane requested emergency landing ahead of it.
Last contact with tower control had them at 8.2 miles away from the airport.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38142998

Crazy and looks like it could've been easily avoided.
 

robssecondjob

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Fox Brazil aired 90 minutes of a black screen with a countdown timer during the period when the match was supposed to be played.

Very, very class.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
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Thanks for the info re: Altetico. I know zero about South American clubs. I always was curious re: the politics of club football there, given that the cream of South American players get skimmed off for the big European clubs - I remember looking at Argentina's roster at the Copa America and only 2 or 3 guys played domestically.

Fox Brazil aired 90 minutes of a black screen with a countdown timer during the period when the match was supposed to be played.

Very, very class.
Agreed.
 

steeplechase3k

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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38231774

Chapecoense plane crash: Bolivia arrests LaMia airline boss

The authorities in Bolivia have arrested the head of the airline involved in a crash last week that killed 71 people, including most of the Brazilian football team, Chapecoense.

Gustavo Vargas, a retired air force general, has been detained as part of an investigation into the crash.

The plane, operated by the tiny LaMia airline, was taking the team to Colombia when it ran out of fuel.

A Bolivian official says she warned the pilot of the problem before departure.

The official, Celia Castedo, has now sought asylum in Brazil, saying she suffered threats and abuse.
 

Rancho Relaxo

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Sorry to bump an older thread, but last night I saw Nossa Chape a documentary about this tragedy.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7983678/

If it is available in your area I'd highly recommend it, but bring a tissue, it's heart breaking.
I saw it on Fox Sports after the World Cup matches that Saturday. It was phenomenal -- heartbreaking and poignant. There's such a raw honesty, as well as a number of haunting moments and revelations. I watched it again with my family and found myself tearing up many times. I can't recommend it highly enough.