Brazil's President Michel Temer has decreed three days of national mourning for the victims of an air crash in Colombia that killed most of the players of the Chapecoense soccer team, his office says.

LISTEN ABOVE: Correspondent Antonia Eklund speaks to Rachel Smalley about the plane crash in Colombia

The BAe 146 charter aircraft crashed into the Colombian jungle on approach to Medellin airport killing 76 people onboard, including 21 journalists.

"Six people were rescued alive, but unfortunately one died. The rest of the occupants unfortunately died. The tragic toll is 76 victims," Jose Gerardo Acevedo, regional police commander, told journalists.

The plane crashed in a mountainous rural area outside of the city of Medellin and heavy rains at one point halted rescue operations. News showed photos of twisted wreckage and hospital staff awaiting patients.

The club said in a statement that it would not be making any official comments until it had more information from Colombian authorities about Monday night's crash.

Flight tracking service Flightradar24 said on Twitter the last tracking signal from flight 2933 had been received when it was at 15,500 feet, about 30km from its destination, which sits at an altitude of 7,000 feet.

The Avro RJ85 was produced by a company that is now part of UK's BAE Systems

The charter flight was carrying 72 passengers and nine crew, when it crashed on Monday. Heavy rain first hampered and then halted rescue operations. Officials told local media that bodies would be removed at first light.

Brazilian news organisations reported 21 journalists had been on board to cover the match.

The crash evoked memories of Munich air disaster in 1958, which killed 23 people including eight Manchester United players, journalists and travelling officials.