Fuel clue in Medellin crash

Evidence was mounting at the weekend that the 28 November plane crash at Medellin was caused by the aircraft running out of fuel after the pilot was ordered to circle to allow an incoming flight to land.

Initial reports by aviation authorities at the scene also said the captain had declared an emergency shortly before the accident because of an electrical failure.

The situation was further confused when  The Guardian  reported on Tuesday that a copy of the flight plan had been circulated widely in Brazil, showing that the estimated time of the journey and the plane’s total range were the same – 4hr 22min, leaving no time for any delays. 

The Bae 146, operated by charter airline LaMia, was carrying 72 passengers, including members of a top Brazilian football team, Chapecoense, and nine crew. Only five of those on board survived the accident.

The disaster has prompted a full investigation that involves Colombian, Brazilian, Bolivian and British authorities, with the plane’s two black boxes being flown to the UK for analysis. 

The soccer team were flying to Medellin via Bolivia for a key match. London’s  Evening Standard  quoted local media reports saying the team had to change their flight and board the aircraft that crashed after Brazilian aviation authorities stopped them taking another charter.

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