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AFA hired firm to fly Argentine team without knowing plane

This photo released by the Bolivian Soccer Federation Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, shows the doomed BAE 146 Avro RJ85 LaMia jet, registration CP-2933, parked at the Viru Viru airport in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Oct. 4, 2016. There are indications that the LaMia jet ran out of fuel, moments before crashing into the Andes near Medellin, on Monday evening. It is not known whether the lack of fuel was because they did not have enough for the flight, a leak or for some other reason. (Andres Dorado/Bolivian Soccer Federation via AP)
This photo released by the Bolivian Soccer Federation Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, shows the doomed BAE 146 Avro RJ85 LaMia jet, registration CP-2933, parked at the Viru Viru airport in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Oct. 4, 2016. There are indications that the LaMia jet ran out of fuel, moments before crashing into the Andes near Medellin, on Monday evening. It is not known whether the lack of fuel was because they did not have enough for the flight, a leak or for some other reason. (Andres Dorado/Bolivian Soccer Federation via AP) This photo released by the Bolivian Soccer Federation Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, shows the doomed BAE 146 Avro RJ85 LaMia jet, registration CP-2933, parked at the Viru Viru airport in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Oct. 4, 2016. There are indications that the LaMia jet ran out of fuel, moments before crashing into the Andes near Medellin, on Monday evening. It is not known whether the lack of fuel was because they did not have enough for the flight, a leak or for some other reason. (Andres Dorado/Bolivian Soccer Federation via AP)

By Associated Press 1 min read

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) – Argentina’s soccer association hired the plane that was used to transport superstar Lionel Messi and the rest of the team for a World Cup qualifying game without knowing the name of the airline or the model of the plane.

And it was the same British Aerospace 146 Avro RJ85 jet operated by Bolivia-based charter company LaMia that crashed into Colombia, killing most of a Brazilian soccer team.

Argentine Football Association spokesman Miguel Hirsch said Friday the AFA was forced to look for options for a roundtrip Buenos Aires-Belo Horizonte flight after the plane they often use was sent for revisions.

The Associated Press had access to offer sheets that six companies presented. None mentioned the name of the airline and the one they chose did not provide the plane model.