The World is still in shock. This follows the air disaster that took place in Columbia killing 76 people in November 29 2016. Majority of those who perished belonged to Brazilian football team Chapecoense.
Today, we take a closer look at other air disasters involving Sports teams in history;
6. USA Figure Skating Team-1961
On 15th February 1961, 18 members of US Figure Skating team were heading to Prague to participate in World Championship. Their plane crashed in a field in Belgium killing everybody on board. All the players were killed. It was a sad day for United States figure skating fraternity.
5. Alianza Lima Football Club- 1987
On 8th December 1987, a plane carrying players and the Coaching staff of Alianza Lima Football Club of Peru crashed. The Pacific Ocean accident killed 16 first team players and the Coach. The team had just won 1-0 in Pucallpa to move top of the table.
4. Zambia National Team-1993
In 1993, April 27 to be precise, Zambia national team was heading to Senegal to play the hosts in a World Cup qualifier. They stopped in Libreville, the Capital of Gabon to refuel. They were back in the air to continue with the journey only to crash in the Atlantic Ocean few miles from the Capital.
A total of eighteen players and five officials were killed. The South African nation and Africa Football was in shock. The nation lost some of the very best talents. In 2012, Zambia won Africa Cup of Nations in the same Capital Libreville. They visited the crash site to dedicate the win to the fallen heroes in a very emotional occasion.
3. Torino Football Club- 1949
On May 4 1949, a plane carrying members of Torino Football Club clashed into a mountain in Turin killing 22 players. The team was one of the best in Italy at the time and the disaster affected the City, region and country. A book was written later in honour of the team and it was given the title of ‘The Day Italian Football Died.’
2. Manchester United -1958
In February 6th 1958, at exactly 3:04pm, a plane carrying 44 people was trying to take off from Munich Airport in Germany. It came down few minutes after going up killing 23 people on the spot. Among the dead were 8 Manchester United players and 8 journalists.
The disaster seriously affected the Red Devils. Luckily the manager who had put together the special team that had won the league in 1956 and 1957 Matt Busby survived. He went on to build another team that delivered the first Champions League crown in England in 1968. Sir Bobby Charlton was one of the survivors. He is still a director at the club to date.
1. Chapecoense Football Club-2016
On 29th of November 2016, the World woke up to yet another air disaster involving a chartered plane carrying 81 people. Majority of the people on board were players and coaching staff of Brazilian football team Chapecoense. They were travelling to Medelin Columbia to play in the Club first ever Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional.
The plane crashed on the way killing 76 people, according to reports. The opponents asked the Federation to name Chapecoense 2016 Champions in honour of all those who perished. Fans of the team were all tears in the stadium as they gathered to try and take in the shocking news.
May the Souls of all those who perished in all five terrible disasters rest in Peace.
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