Pilot Mick Quiroga tabled a requestto permit Brazil’s top division Chapecoense soccerteam, who were travelling over the border for a historic Copa Sudamerica cup final, to byepass the circiutous flight to Bolivia, instead fly directly to the town of Medellin, the matchvenue
But aviation authorities refused permission for a flight to take the direct route from Sao Paulo in Brazil to Medellin in Columbia.
A recorded phone call shows how the Bolivia-based LAMIA airline pilot pleaded with the mayor of the club’s home city, Chapeco, to help him get permission for the more direct route.
Mick Quiroga said: “I hired a Bolivian aeroplane to take us from Sao Paulo Guarulhos to Santa Cruz. I’ll be waiting here in Santa Cruz.
“This flight leaves 3pm local time in Sao Paulo, but the process of that other application that we did have leave for because we have approval to enter in Foz do Iguacu and go to Chapeco.
“Please Mayor, give us some help here for us to enter”.
His request was turned down by Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) because of rules over flight services between countries.
“The transportation must be done by a Brazilian or Colombian company”, a ruling official said.
“I understand that there is a company already in place to carry out the flight. That being the case, I deny authorisation.”

Chapecoense players celebrate the historic moment when the series A new comer qualified first time ever for theCopa Sudamerica cup final after beating Argentina’s San Lorenzo on Nov, 3

Empty locker room: Chapecoense players who did not make trip sit stunned in a nearly empty locker room at the club’s facilities

After already paying for the LAMIA flight, it meant the team had to fly from Brazil and change over to board the doomed plane in Bolivia, from where they set off on Monday night.
‘Micky’ Quiroga died along with 75 others when the plane plunged into a remote forested area near the town of La Ceja.

Pilot,  Mick Quiroga, sought permission for a direct. It was refused and the plane crashed, some reports say, due to an elecrical fault

Heart tugging photographs taken from the cockpit of the ill-fated plane show a smiling Quiroga with some of the Chapecoense squad just hours before the disaster that left only five survivors.

Flight 2933 crashes on its approach to Medellin’s Jose Maria Cordaba airport, in Colombia’s Antioquia department.
Rescuers have started the grim task of removing bodies from the crash site as it emerged the pilot circled in a desperate attempt to burn off fuel before attempting to land.

Emergency rescue workers transfer Brazilian soccer player Alan Ruschel, one of the six survivors

Human daisy chain as rescue workers traverse the difficult terrain to reach the crash site

Chapecoense goalkeeper Danilo Padilha, seen here with his wife, was one of the 7 surivors pulled from the wreckage of the Colombian air disaster, made a last call to his wife before dying moments later in hospital.

Medical personell transfer 27-year-old defender, Alan Ruschel after he as pulled alive from the wreckage

Chapecoense player Helio Hermito Zampier Neto was the sixth person was found alive, seen here being treated by medics
 

Rescuers negotiate the difficult and remote crash sites with stretchers being carried down to waiting ambulances

The Chapecoense team posing together in front of a passenger jet before their doomed flight crashed in Colombia which virtually wiped out the first team

The team, from the small city of Chapeco, was in the middle of a fairy tale season. It joined Brazil’s first division in 2014 for the first time since the 1970s and made it last week to the Copa Sudamericana finals – the equivalent of the UEFA Europa League tournament – after defeating Argentina’s San Lorenzo.
‘May God accompany our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests travelling with our delegation’ the club said in a brief statement on its Facebook page. The players looked happy and relaxed as they waited for permission to board.

The team, from the small city of Chapeco, was in the middle of a fairy tale season. It joined Brazil’s first division in 2014 for the first time since the 1970s and made it last week to the Copa Sudamericana finals – the equivalent of the UEFA Europa League tournament – after defeating Argentina’s San Lorenzo.
‘May God accompany our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests travelling with our delegation’ the club said in a brief statement on its Facebook page. The players looked happy and relaxed as they waited for permission to board.

Rescue experts remove recovered bodies of the plane’s wreckage this morning as they worked to clear the scene of the disaster

The LAMIA plane that crashed in Colombia wiping a top Brazilian clubside. The plane is a  British Aerospace 146. 

The flight manifest included 20 players, the manager Caio Junior and four other members of his coaching team including an assistant manager, a personal trainer, a kinesiologist and a masseur who is said to be among the survivors.
The club’s president and vice-president were also on board along with other club managers. The team were only about five minutes from their destination when they crashed.
Among those believed to have perished on the flight to Medellin are dozens of sports journalists and well-known football commentators making their way to report on Chapecoense’s history-making game.
They include a six-strong team from FOX Sports, three reporters from Brazil’s main Globo TV channel, among a total of 21 members of the media.
Among the team from FOX, which was broadcasting the game, were famous commentators Devair Pascovicci and Mario Sergio, as well as respected football journalist Victorino Chermont.
It also emerged Anderson Paixao, the trainer of both Chapecoense and the Brazilian national side, is among those not accounted for.
Anderson had first been called up to train Brazil stars such as Neymar and David Luiz last year for the Copa America in Chile.
His colleague, Chapecoense’s physio Rafael Gobbato is also believed to be among the dead.
The plane was flying from Viru Viru airport in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and should have landed at Jose Maria Cordova in Colombia
The 28-year-old has played for Spain’s Villarreal, Penarol of Uruguay and Brazilian clubs Coritiba, Ponte Preta, Cruzeiro and Fluminense.
Meanwhile the son of coach Caio Junior who perished in the crash has told how he only didn’t board the doomed aircraft after forgetting his passport.
Some of the lorries are getting stuck in mud which is making the rescue more difficult. Witnesses said they have seen five people rescued so far.

 Chapecoense FC team before the ill-fated flight took off

Tozzo told cable channel SporTV that ‘we are very sad, gathered here in the locker room of our stadium. We are still waiting for news. All our board is there, our players. We have nothing concrete on their state.’
He said that ‘There are a lot of people crying in our city, we could never imagine this. Chapecoense is the biggest reason for joy here. We hope there are many survivors, at least that most of them are OK.’
The South American soccer federation has cancelled all activities until further notice.
The CONMEBOL federation said in a statement that its president, Alejandro Dominguez, is on his way to Medellin.
Atletico Nacional had said on Twitter: ‘National deeply regret and sympathise with @ChapecoenseReal for the accident which has happened and await information from authorities.’
Footballers around the world paid tribute to the team today with England captain Wayne Rooney among those taking to Twitter.
He said: ‘Sad news to wake up to today. Thoughts with @ChapecoenseReal and their family and friends.’

Brazilian legend Pele captured the mood of many when he said on Twitter: ‘Brazilian football is in mourning.’
‘Sad day for football,’ Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi said in a Twitter post. ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Chapecoense players and others who died. RIP.’
Poutegese great, and former Real Madrid star,  Luis Figo added: ‘Thoughts and prayers go out to all the players families and everyone associated with @ChapecoenseReal football club.’

Brazilian striker Neymar tweeted the club badge and Porto’s Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas said ‘Good luck and stay strong!’
Former Germany captain Michael Ballack tweeted: ‘Very sad to read #RIP #Chapecoense Remember we are never safe and anything can happen, so make sure to tell your loved ones that you care.’
Manchester United, who lost a whole genration of players in the documented February 1958 air crash as their plane crashed on take off from Munich airport wrote on Twitter: ‘#ForçaChapecoense – The thoughts of everyone at Manchester United are with @ChapecoenseReal & all those affected by the tragedy in Colombia.’
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said it was a ‘very, very sad day for football’.