Colombian Air Crash: Plane Was Without Fuel, Crew Member Speaks Up

Just before LaMia Flight 2933 crashed into a hillside near Medellin, Colom­bia, a crew member onboard told air traffic controllers, “The plane is in total electric failure and without fuel,” accord­ing to two sources familiar with the in­vestigation who heard audio recordings.
The conversations add new details to the final moments of the crash Monday that killed 71 people, including members of a Brazilian soccer team.

They also add further evidence sup­porting investigators’ suspicions that the jet had depleted its fuel during its charter flight from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to Medellin.

The audio was published in Colom­bian media. Brazilian soccer squad Chapecoense was on its way to the Copa Sudamericana finals in Medellin. Three players, two crew members and one journalist survived, Colombian au­thorities said.

CNN reported Tuesday evening that investigators were considering a short­age of fuel as a significant contributor to Monday’s crash, according to a per­son familiar with the early stages of the inquiry.