Alan Ruschel: Chapecoense plane crash survivor wins promotion in final match before retiring

Image source, Getty Images

• Published15 November 2026, 17:00 GMT

Alan Ruschel, a survivor of the 2016 plane crash that was carrying the Chapecoense football team, won promotion to Brazil's Serie A in his final game before retirement.

Ruschel, 37, was one of just six survivors when the plane crashed in Colombia and killed 71 people, including 19 of the club's players and the coaching staff.

Despite severe injuries and spinal surgery, Ruschel returned to football a year later and retires after earning promotion to Brazil's top flight with Juventude, his boyhood club which he re-joined in 2023.