A preliminary investigation into the air crash that killed most of the Chapecoense football team has determined fuel starvation to be the cause of the accident.
The aircraft, a BAE 146 Avro RJ85, had almost exceeded its maximum range by the time its pilot attempted to land. A local delay meant that the aircraft had to go on a holding pattern, as another flight had declared an emergency. This delay doomed the aircraft, as there was no provision for any such contingency.
The last exchanges between the pilot and air traffic controllers reflect the urgency of the situation, as the aircraft’s engines had almost run dry at that point.
In the wake of the accident, the Bolivia-based charter airline operating the flight, LaMia, had its flying permit revoked.
Seventy one people died after the plane crashed 30km short of its destination. The vast majority of the Chapeconense football team, several officials, and crew perished. There were six survivors.