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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Sporting stars who died in air crashes

Sporting stars who died in air crashes

Published Jan 27, 2020 12:00 am
By Agence France-Presse

NBA legend Kobe Bryant died on Sunday when a helicopter crashed and burst into flames in suburban Los Angeles.

In this file photo taken on January 25, 2010 US President Barack Obama poses with Los Angeles Lakers' Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant (AFP Photo/Jim WATSON) In this file photo taken on January 25, 2010 US President Barack Obama poses with Los Angeles Lakers' Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant (AFP Photo/Jim WATSON)

AFP Sport looks at six other air tragedies which claimed the lives of sporting heroes:

1958: Manchester United

The plane carrying members of Manchester United's 'Busby Babes' crashed in Germany as it returned from a European Cup match in Belgrade. Eight players died following the incident as well as three staff members.

Matty Busby's side went on to win the trophy in 1968 and a passage under United's Old Trafford stadium was named the 'Munich Tunnel' on the 50th anniversary of the accident.

1961: US Figure Skating

All 18 athletes in the US figure skating team lost their lives on their way to Prague for the World Championships as their aircraft crashed on approach to an airport in Brussels.

The competition was canceled and the whole squad and their coaches were inducted into the US Skating Hall of Fame in January 2011.

1972: Old Christians Rugby Club

The Uruguayan outfit lost 12 team members when the plane set for Santiago in Chile crashed in a remote part of the Andes mountain range.

After they ran out of food on the glacier, survivors resorted to eating the flesh from the dead bodies and they were found 71 days after the crash.

Books, films and documentaries have been made about the accident and hikers still visit the site at 3,570 meters to pay tribute.

2016: Chapecoense

A charter flight from Bolivia to Colombia carrying 77 people claimed the lives of 19 members of the Brazilian side's squad traveling to the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final.

The title was awarded to the club following a request from their opponents Atletico Nacional.

Spanish club Barcelona organized a friendly against Chapecoense less than a year later to raise funds as one of the survivors Alan Ruschel played his first match since the incident.

2018: Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

Leicester City owner Vichai was killed as the helicopter carrying him and four other people crashed outside the club's King Power stadium hours after a league game.

Thousands of Foxes supporters took part in a walk in remembrance of the victims before their next match and the Thai billionaire's son Aiyawatt took over control of the English side.

2019: Emiliano Sala

The Argentinian striker was traveling by plane from Nantes to Wales to finalize a move to then Premier League club  when his aircraft crashed in the English Channel.

There are still unresolved issues surrounding the player's death, such as the payment of the 17 million euros ($18.85 million) fee agreed for his transfer.

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