Chapecoense air disaster — details emerge

Doomed Colombia crash plane had been flying for 20 minutes longer than its four-hour fuel capacity before it was told to circle as it is revealed the desperate pilot pleaded with air traffic control for help as he declared “We’re going down”.

The jet that crashed down in Colombia killing 71 people had been flying for 20 minutes longer than its four-hour fuel capacity before it was told to circle, it has emerged.

Data shows the Bolivian LaMia plane was capable of holding 21,000 lbs of fuel and would have burnt up to 5,000 lbs an hour during its doomed flight to Medellin.

But after spending 4 hours 20 minutes in the air close to full passenger capacity, air traffic controllers in the Colombian city ordered the pilot to put the plane into a holding pattern.

It comes as the desperate last words of the pilot flying the jet were revealed. Miguel Alejandro Quiroga Murakami pleaded on his radio as the jet carrying 77 passengers plummeted to its fate in the Colombian mountains killing 71 people on board.

The conversation was heard by another pilot — Juan Sebastian Upegui — who was on the airwaves at the time and recalled his fellow airman’s last words.

In his horrifying final call, Mr Quiroga declared an emergency before saying “there’s no fuel”,

“we have total electronic failure” and then screaming, “help us” and “we’re going down”.

An audio tape aired by the Colombian media showed that the pilot of the LaMia airlines BAe146 radioed the control tower Monday night seeking priority to land.

The operator acknowledges the request but tells pilot Miguel Quiroga he will have to wait seven minutes to land.

“I have a plane below you making its approach ... How much time can you remain in your approach, Lima-Mike-India?”

“We have a fuel emergency, ma’am, that’s why I am asking you for it at once, full stop.”

Moments later: “I request an immediate descent Lima-Mike-India.”

The timeline was not immediately clear but shortly thereafter the pilot radioed: “Ma’am, Lima-Mike-India 2933 is in total failure, total electrical failure, without fuel.”

The operator responded: “Runway clear and expect rain on the runway Lima-Mike-India 2933. Firefighters alerted.”

The pilot is heard asking: “Vectors, ma’am, vectors to the runway.” Vectors is the term for the navigation service provided to planes by air traffic control. The operator is heard giving him directions, and asking his altitude.

“Nine thousand feet, ma’am. Vectors! Vectors!”

Those were Quiroga’s last words to the control tower. — DailyMail.