The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has joined its affiliate, the National Federation of Journalist from Brazil (FENAJ, for its initials in Portuguese), in expressing its sincere condolences to the relatives and colleagues of the 20 journalists who died today in a plane crash in Antioquia, Colombia.
The plane was carrying the players of the Brazilian football team Chapecoense, journalists and crew. Chapecoense was flying to Colombia to play the final match of Copa Sur Americana against Atlético Nacional de Colombia. The flight began in Sao Paulo, stopped in Bolivia and was supposed to arrive in the Colombian city of Medellin today.
Aboard the plane there were 81 people, 75 of whom have lost their lives (20 were journalists) and 6 have survived the tragedy: the journalist Rafael Henzel (Radio Oeste), three football players and two members of the crew, according to reports.
FENAJ, together with Journalist’s Unions of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Santa Caterina, have expressed their solidarity with the families and friends of the sports journalists.
“This tragedy has killed professionals of the TV, radio and press who were on their way to cover the sport event in Medellin. We are with their families in these moments of deep grief,” said the unions in a joint statement.
"The whole IFJ family is thinking of our Brazilian colleagues today," said IFJ President, Philippe Leruth. "We offer our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who tragically died."
So far, 98 journalists and media workers lost their lives in work-related incidents in 2016, according to the IFJ's latest figures.
According to the Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa, the names of the 20 journalists that have lost their lives tragically in a plane crash are:
1. Victorino Chermont (Fox Sports Brasil)
2. Rodrigo Santana Gonçalves (Fox Sports Brasil)
3. Devair Paschoalon (Fox Sports Brasil)
4. Lilacio Pereira Jr. (Fox Sports Brasil)
5. Paulo Clement (Fox Sports Brasil)
6. Mario Sergio (Fox Sports Brasil)
7. Guilherme Marques (Globo)
8. Ari de Araújo Jr. (Globo)
9. Guilherme Laars, (Globo)
10. Giovane Klein Victória (RBS)
11. Bruno Mauri da Silva (RBS)
12. Djalma Araújo Neto (RBS)
13. André Podiacki (RBS)
14. Laion Espíndola (Globo Esporte)
15. Renan Agnolin (Radio West Capital)
16. Gelson Galiotto (Radio Super Conda)
17. Douglas Dorneles (Radio de Chapecó)
18. Fernando Schardong (Rádio Chapecó)
19. Edson Ebeliny (Rádio Super Condá)
20. Jacir Biavatti (Rádio Vang FM)
For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 16
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 140 countries