Retired air force general Gustavo Vargas was picked up in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz for questioning as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy continues.

A mechanic and a secretary who worked at the LaMia airline, which remains in its infancy having only been cleared to fly earlier this year, have also been questioned, according to reports.

It comes amid claims that the plane, which was travelling from Santa Cruz to Medellin before it crashed into a mountain just outside of the city, did not have enough fuel for the journey.

In total, 71 of the 77 passengers were killed.

As well as the Chapecoense players, club officials and journalists also lost their lives.

The six survivors were three players, two aircrew and a journalist.

Bolivian attorney general Ramiro Guerrero has been quoted as saying that the probe into the crash centres on possible criminal failure to follow safety measures.

He admitted that the case "could turn into manslaughter".

Another Bolivian official, who reportedly warned the pilot about the issue before they left for Medellin, has sought asylum after claims she is being persecuted.

According to Brazil's O Globo newspaper, delays getting from São Paulo to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, where the team had chartered the plane, meant a scheduled refuelling stop in the Bolivian city of Cobija was abandoned because the airport does not operate at night.

The pilot allegedly had the option to refuel in Colombia’s capital Bogota, but instead headed straight to Medellin. 

In a leaked recording of the final minutes of the doomed flight, the pilot can be heard repeatedly requesting authorisation from the air traffic tower to land because of "fuel problems".

A controller explained another plane from airline VivaColombia had been diverted with mechanical problems and had priority.

As the plane circled in a holding pattern, the pilot grew more desperate, saying "complete electrical failure, without fuel".

Just before the audio recording ends, the pilot is heard asking urgently for directions to the airport.

Chapecoense had been heading to Medellin to play the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final, which is the continent’s second biggest club competition behind the Copa Libertadores.

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) confirmed yesterday that Chapecoense would be awarded the Copa Sudamericana title as a mark of respect to the victims.

Colombia’s Atletico Nacional, the other club involved in the final, asked South America’s football governing body to give Chapecoense the trophy and prize money, worth $2 million (£1.6million/€1.9million).

Clubs competing in UEFA Champions League matches last night observed a minute's silence to remember the victims.