BREAKING NEWS: Colombia plane crash: 81 people on flight included Brazilian football team Chapecoense

A chartered plane flying from Bolivia carrying 81 people, including football players from Brazil's Chapecoense, crashed on its way to the city of Medellin in Colombia on Monday.

It is said that the incident took place due to electrical problems. Six survivors have been reported so far. Meanwhile, helicopters are searching for more survivors.

The team was due to play Copa Sudamericana final against Medellin team Atletico Nacional. The first of the two-day match was scheduled to take place on Wednesday but now it has been suspended. There were reportedly at least 22 players from the team on plane. Furthermore, it said that 21 football journalists from Brazil were also on the flight.

The British Aerospace 146 short-haul plane started its journey from Sao Paulo, Brazil. It stopped at Santa Cruz de la Sierra for a short duration before heading to Colombia. The plane reportedly crashed in mountainous area shortly before midnight (1 p.m. AEDT) while on its way to José María Córdova International Airport.

“At the moment we know that the disaster happened in Cerro Gordo the municipality of La Unión and that there were 72 passengers and nine crew aboard, including the football team Chapocoense Real. There are reported to be six survivors,” reads a statement from José Maria Córdova airport.

Here’s a video published on the team's Facebook page that shows the players getting ready to board the flight at Sao Paulo's Guarulhos international airport.