Nearly 150 killed in Madrid plane crash

(August 21, Madrid, Sri Lanka Guardian) A Spanair plane crashed during takeoff at Madrid airport on Wednesday, killing 149 people.

A Spanish emergency rescue official has been quoted as saying there are only 26 survivors from the plane which was carrying a total of 175 people.

Eyewitnesses have said the plane's left engine was on fire as it took off.

Other reports suggested that the plane was making a second attempt to take-off after aborting the original one.

Officials from parent company Scandinavian airline SAS confirmed there were at least 166 passengers and six crew on board the McDonald Douglas MD82 plane.

Thick, white smoke billowed from the scene at Barajas airport.

In a statement, Spanair said: "Spanair regrets to confirm that its flight number JK 5022 from Madrid to Las Palmas de Gran Canarias was involved in an accident at Madrid, at 14.45 hours local time today," the airline said.

"Spanair is doing everything possible to assist the Spanish authorities at this difficult time. Spanair will provide further information as soon as it becomes available."

An official with the Madrid emergency rescue service SAMUR said crews were removing injured people and bodies from the plane.

"It is a certain catastrophe," a SAMUR official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to give his name.

Earlier on Wednesday, Spanair pilots threatened to go on strike in protest that the loss-making airline was not doing enough to save itself.
- Sri Lanka Guardian