Chapecoense defender Neto (left) spoke to players before the first training session since the tragic plane crash that killed 19 players and coaching staff last year ©ChapecoenseReal/Twitter

Brazilian football club Chapecoense have held their first training session since the devastating air crash late last year which killed most of the team.

In total, 19 players and coaching staff were among 71 people to die when their plane ran out of fuel and crashed into a mountain just outside of Colombian city Medellín on November 28. 

The team had been en route to the city in order to play Atletico Nacional in the final of the Copa Sudamericana.

Chapecoense, who earlier this week claimed they wanted to to sign up to 20 new players in order to rebuild their side, begin their domestic campaign due on January 26, where they are scheduled to face Joinville at home.

Prior to the start of the season, the club will also welcome Brazilian league opponents Palmeiras for a friendly match on January 21.

"Today we set out on a new path," the club's new president Plinio David De Nes Filho told local media.

"May it be filled with hope, optimism, determination, effort and much solidarity."

Cruzeiro centre-back Douglas Grolli, who was part of the Chapecoense squad between 2008 and 2011, was the first loan signing to be announced after having spent last season also on loan at Ponte Preta.

He also had another spell on loan with the club in 2014.

Three players - goalkeeper Jackson Follmann, centre-back Neto and full-back Alan Ruschel - all survived the crash.

It is hoped that Neto and Ruschel will ultimately return to the first team squad, but Follmann will be unable to after having part of his leg amputated.

Neto was on hand to welcome the new players on the first day of training inside the dressing room.

Colombia's Civil Aeronautics agency concluded in its investigation that the plan for the fatal flight did not meet international standards.

They said a series of errors were made including the decision to allow the plane to take off without enough fuel to make the flight safely.

The pilot failed to refuel en-route and did not report engine failures caused by the lack of fuel until it was too late, according to preliminary results of the investigation.