MIAMI, Florida (November 29, 2016)—The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today expressed deep sorrow at the death of 20 sports reporters from Brazil, several of whom worked in media that are members of the organization, in an airplane accident last night in Colombia that has sent the world of football into mourning.
Matt Sanders, IAPA president and senior editor and general manager of Deseret Digital Media, Salt Lake City, Utah, expressed sorrow over the tragedy and declared his "solidarity and condolences to the colleagues and families of all the victims," adding that "the international press is in mourning over this huge loss."
The plane was heading for Medellín. Aboard were players, technical staff, directors, companions and fans of the Chapecoense team of Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The team was due to play in the final of the South American Cup against Atlético Nacional. Of the 77 people on board 71 died and six were rescued, among them three team players, one journalist and two crew members.
Of the 21 journalists the survivor was Rafael Henzel of Radio Oeste radio station. Those who died were: Victorino Chermon, Rodrigo Santana, Deva Pascovicci, Lilácio Pereira Júnior, Paulo Júlio Clement and Mário Sérgio of Fox Sports; Guilherme Marques, Ari de Araújo Júnior and Guilherme Laars of Globo; Giovane Klein Victória, Bruno Mauri da Silva, Djalma Araújo Netto and André Podiacki of RBS; Laion Espíndula of Globoesporte.com. Also killed were reporters from various radio stations – Renan Agnolin, Fernando Schardong, Edson Luiz Ebeliny, Gelson Galiotto, Douglas Dorneles and Jacir Biavatti.
The IAPA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the defense and promotion of freedom of the press and of expression in the Americas. It is made up of more than 1,300 publications from throughout the Western Hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida.
