Medellin — The authorities on Thursday shut down a Bolivian charter airline whose plane ran out of fuel and crashed in the Colombian mountains, killing 71 people including most of a Brazilian football team. As grieving relatives identified their loved ones and the first body was sent home, a harrowing recording emerged of the pilot’s final minutes seeking to land the plane without fuel. Bolivia said it had suspended the charter company Lamia’s permit and ordered an investigation into its operations. It also suspended the executive staff of the civil aviation authority and the airports administrator for the duration of the probe. Investigators are examining pilot error and air traffic control problems as possible factors in Monday night’s crash. The disaster killed most of the Brazilian football club Chapecoense Real and 20 journalists traveling with them to a major regional championship match. Lamia, which specialises in flying Latin American football teams, has ferried local clubs ...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.