Revealed: Colombian crash plane pilot's father was ALSO a pilot who died in a plane crash when he was just one year old

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The pilot of the Colombian plane crash lost his father in an air disaster, it has been revealed.

Miguel 'Micky' Quiroga, 36, was flying the Bolivian Lamia plane when it crashed in Colombia, killing 71 people yesterday - including all but three of the Chapecoense football team.

As it became clear the flight would end in disaster as the CP-2933 plane began to suffer catastrophic electrical problems, Micky reportedly dumped the plane's remaining fuel, so it would not explode on impact.

It has been claimed that his quick-thinking is the reason six people survived the tragedy.

Now it has emerged that Micky's father, Eduardo, was also a pilot who died in a crash when Micky was a baby.

Married to the daughter of an ex-Brazilian senator, Roger Pinto, the couple, who had three children, had been constructing a home in Epitaciolandia, on the border with Bolivia in the northern Brazilian state of Acre

Miguel 'Micky' Quiroga was flying the Bolivian Lamia plane when it crashed in Colombia, killing 71 people early this morning

Micky's (left) cousin Kris Quiroga, an architect, summed up the good feeling towards him in post on a local news website: 'Today I woke up with the worst news of my life

Friends and family of Miguel - known as Micky - today paid tribute to the experienced aviator, a devoted father-of-three and husband who they claimed instinctively helped others. 

And they claimed that, rather than putting him off becoming a pilot, growing up without his father Eduardo made him more determined to follow the same career path - one in which he has now suffered the same fate. 

Milena Quiroga, a cousin of the pilot, told how Bolivian-born Micky had recently applied for Brazilian nationality after setting up home in Brazil with his wife and three children, who are all Brazilian. 

Milena remembered how he studied obsessively to be a pilot like his late father.

She said: 'His father suffered an accident when Miguel was still a baby, but he always wanted to following this career.

'He went in to the air force so he could become a pilot, and become a commercial pilot, so he could have better quality of life. 

'I kept in touch with him through social networks because he never stopped, he worked a lot. 

'My cousin loved aviation and divided his time between Cobija and Epitaciolandia. He was a person who was happy and professionally fulfilled.'

That the experienced Micky thought of saving the lives of others in what he would have known were the last moments of his own life seems extraordinary for many around the world following the tragic events unfold.

But for those who knew him, the act of heroism was nothing out of ordinary for Micky, for whom putting others first was a natural instinct.

And in the remote Brazilian town where Micky and his wife Daniela Pinto were building their lives, the Bolivian pilot was held in high esteem because of his tirelss efforts to make life better for those around him.

Micky Quiroga (Pilot), Ovar Goytia (co-pilot), Rommel David Vacaflores (assistant), Alex Quispe, Gustavo Encina, Erwin Tumiri, Sisy Arias and Angel Lugo who were part of the crew.

Married to the daughter of an ex-Brazilian senator, Roger Pinto, the couple, who had three children, had been constructing a home in Epitaciolandia, on the border with Bolivia in the northern Brazilian state of Acre.

According to reports, the couple often used their status and connections to push for investment in the town, while the pilot had used his own money to fund improvements.

Micky's cousin Kris Quiroga, an architect, summed up the good feeling towards him in post on a local news website: 'Today I woke up with the worst news of my life. 

'Today I lost my cousin.. my brother.. and my prince of my 15th birthday party.. my super hero!

'A good person, with a beautiful family, full of stories, marvelous experiences and I was his fan!

'Today you went to be with your father, Uncle Eduardo and your brother, who must be very proud of you and who are welcoming you with open arms.

'Here we will miss you and will keep the memories of all the moments that we spent together, and the certainty that you did everything possible to save everyone who was on that plane.'

Pictures taken at the scene show rescue teams trying to find survivors and the crumpled remains of the team's plane

The wreckage of the LAMIA airlines charter plane carrying members of the Chapecoense Real football team is seen after it crashed in the mountains of Cerro Gordo

There are reports that the team had to change their flight and board the doomed aircraft after Brazilian aviation authorities prevented them from taking a charter plane

A police searcher looks through the wreckage of the plane as rescuers started to remove bodies from the site this morning

Born in the northern Bolivian city of Cobija, Micky went to military college and graduated as a pilot in the Bolivian Air Force (FAB), where he gained experience flying over the Bolivian Amazon.

He rose to the rank of 'official aviator' before starting a career in commercial flights.

According to reports, he was a co-owner of the Lamia Corporation, and had commanded aircraft on flights to Europe and other parts of the world.

Mario Pchecho, press officer for Lamia, told Bolivian El Deber newspaper that the company has three planes, two of which are currently undergoing maintenance work. 

He said that while the planes are owned by Venezuelans, the company itself is owned by Micky and his partner, Marco Antonio Rocha.

Micky Quiroga, pilot of the plane, which crashed

Micky tended to pilot flights chartered by football teams on his planes, had flown the Bolivian and Argentinian national sides and had already transported Chapecoense on other trips, many of whose players already considered him a close friend.

On his Facebook page, Micky had posted pictures with the Chapecoense team, including one of them eating together in a restaurant and another of a football signed by footballers, taken at Medellin airport.

And last month he posted a plane headrest cover signed by Lionel Messi when the company had transported the Argentina side to Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to play a World Cup group game. 

Rescuers have started the grim task of removing bodies from the crash site as it emerged the pilot circled in a desperate attempt to burn off fuel before attempting to land.  

Chapecoense goalkeeper Danilo was one of just seven people initially found alive in the mangled remains of the jet which crashed down on its way from Bolivia to the city of Medellin.

The 31-year-old was rushed for treatment after the crash, which claimed more than 70 lives, and spoke to his wife from his hospital bed - only to die from his injuries a short time later. 

Weeks earlier he had posted a picture of himself next to his wife who he described as 'my love'. 

Last month he posted a plane headrest cover signed by Lionel Messi when the company had transported the Argentina side to Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to play a World Cup group game

Separate images show him posing for selfies with fellow footballer Alan Ruschel, 27, during the journey from Brazil with Ruschel, 27, telling fans: 'We're coming Colombia.'

Ruschel was pulled alive from the wreckage along with goalkeeper Jacson Follmann, defender Helio Hermito Zampier Neto, a journalist and two crew members, officials said.

Forward Tiaguinho, 22, found out he was to become a father - just one week before he was killed in the jet crash.

Chapecoense forward Tiago da Rocha Vieira, also known as Tiaguinho, was filmed in a hotel with his teammates who had a message and gift sent from his wife, Graziele.

For those who knew him, the act of heroism was nothing out of ordinary for Micky, for whom putting others first was a natural instinct.

Sitting against a wall, Tiaguinho, reads a note inside the gift bag. When he realises he is having a baby boy he jumps for joy and chants and dances along with his friends.

The video was posted online today by family members, after it was revealed the 22-year-old attacker was one of the 71 people who died in the air disaster. 

Heartbreaking images have since emerged online showing devastated players who were not travelling with the Chapecoense squad sitting in the club's empty changing room. 

Brazil has since declared three days of mourning

Brazil has since declared three days of mourning.

There are reports that the team had to change their flight at short notice and board the doomed aircraft after Brazilian aviation authorities prevented them from taking a charter plane direct from Sao Paulo to Medellin.

A video published on the Chapecoense Facebook page showed team members readying for their journey earlier on Monday in Sao Paulo's Guarulhos international airport. A team photograph then showed them preparing to board in Bolivia on the second leg of their journey.

The team, from the small city of Chapeco, was in the middle of a fairy tale season. It joined Brazil's first division in 2014 for the first time since the 1970s and made it last week to the Copa Sudamericana finals - the equivalent of the UEFA Europa League tournament - after defeating Argentina's San Lorenzo.

'May God accompany our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests travelling with our delegation' the club said in a brief statement on its Facebook page. 

'The players looked happy and relaxed as they waited for permission to board. 

Rescuers have started the grim task of removing bodies from the crash.            

United for the last time, this is the Brazilian football team posing together in front of a passenger jet before their doomed flight crashed in Colombia, killing 76 on board

The Chapecoense football team are pictured here on a plane. The footballers had to change their flight and board the plane that crashed after Brazilian aviation authorities prevented them from taking a charter flight, it has been claimed