Chapecoense plane crash pilot lost his own father in jet tragedy as investigators look into reports he ran out of fuel
The cruel twist of fate has been revealed as reports suggest the plane carrying players from Chapecoense FC and 21 journalists may have run out of fuel.
Investigators are examining a theory that the pilot did not realise his horrendous error until it was too late.
Miguel Alejandro Quiroga Murakami had previously been hailed a hero, amid claims he dumped fuel just before the crash in a bid to prevent an explosion on impact.
The LaMia Flight 2933 smashed into a mountainous region just 20 miles from its final destination of Medellin airport in Colombia.
Seventy-one of those board - including players from Chapecoense FC and 21 journalists - were killed.
In a cruel twist of fate, it emerged last night that Mr Murakami lost his own father in a plane crash when he was still a baby.
Tragically he also became a father for the third time just weeks ago.
All were being treated at local hospitals.
Of the players, goalkeeper Jackson Follmann was recovering from the amputation of his right leg.
Defender Helio Neto remained in intensive care with severe trauma to his skull, thorax and lungs.
Fellow defender Alan Ruschel had spine surgery.
Mourners in Brazil held a vigil for victims with thousands of people, including relatives of the victims, walking from Chapeco city centre on Tuesday night to Chapecoense’s Arena Conda stadium.
They sang songs about the team’s players, recited prayers and waved lights in the air using their mobile phones. Brazil has begun three days of national mourning.
British investigators will help authorities in South America examine the black box recovered from the plane.
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the British Aerospace 146 plane were found among the wreckage.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) sent a small team to the accident site because the aircraft was manufactured in the UK, and experts are expected to arrive at the scene.
Brazilian footballer Lucas, who plays for Premier League side Liverpoo, revealed that he knew some of the players among the 71 passengers who died.
He told how he avoided the rolling news about the tragedy because it was so upsetting before Liverpool’s EFL Cup win over Leeds on Tuesday night.
He said: “It’s a very sad day. I had people that I played with [on board] and there were some young players with brilliant futures ahead of them.
“It’s just a sad day. We just hope the families are getting the support they need and the victims rest in peace - that’s all we want.”
As the global football community mourned the dead, Brazil’s leading football clubs have pledged to loan players to Chapecoense for free and asked for them to be safeguarded from relegation from the top flight for the next three seasons.
Chapecoense, who had enjoyed a fairytale season, were on their way to play in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional, which had been due to take place.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino offered his condolences, along with three-time World Cup winner Pele, while current Brazil international Neymar, the Barcelona forward, said the news was “impossible to believe”.
Atletico Nacional asked CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation, to award the cup to their opponents as a tribute to those who died.
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