Breaking news.

A Spanair plane has crashed on takeoff

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7572643.stm

Casualties feared.

G

Last Updated: Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 14:21
Plane in 'serious incident' at Madrid airport

A Spanish aircraft has been involved in a serious incident at Madrid's main airport, according to Spanish media reports.
El Mundo is reporting that the plane shot off the runway at Barajas Airport Terminal Four. Initial reports indicate that two people were killed and another 43 people were injured in the incident.

The Spanair plane, with 160 passengers on board was travelling from Madrid to Gran Canaria.

At least 7 died

163 PASSENGERS, On sky News now

I dont like to just quote as many different sources, Reuters news agency say all but 25 of the 166 passengers are dead, its very very sad to hear.

That is hopefully a misunderstanding, I'm still reading 25 dead.

No its not sadly, Goverment just said 40 confirmed, only 19 are survivors and still going through the rest, the emphasis on confirmed is the sad news that there is more bodies unconfirmed

It was the 2nd attempt at take off? It was already late because of technical problems?

Well That plane itself (the model) it seems it was more safer in the eighties than the 00's, I personallly would not want to get on a MD plane having seen a few TV Progs about it

10 Major incidents in last 8 years

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_MD-82

A well known airline site is currently reporting the plane had already been delayed for tech reasons; sounds like a horrendous fire, and very high numbers of dead and injured.
God rest their souls.

21 dead in Madrid airport crash
Wednesday, 20 August 2008 15:45 fmplus news

At least 21 people are reported dead and 40 hurt after a plane skidded off the runway and crashed at Madrid-Barajas airport.

There are conflicting reports about the number of fatalities.

The Spanair flight JK5022 was en route to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands at the time.
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It is understood the plane was attempting an emergency landing shortly after takeoff when it crashed and caught fire.

Eleven fire trucks are at the scene.

The aircraft, which has a capacity of 166 passengers, had 160 people on board.

Spanair is Spain's second biggest airline after Iberia and is a subsidiary of Scandinavian carrier SAS.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=556396 and dead toll to rize aswell
tve/telemadrid fmplus and chatting to some at the airport that filling me in
my hart gose out to them who where traveling and rest

Threads merged together.

Awful tragedy, terrible for the families and friends of those lost and the survivors will probably be in a very nad state. My thought are also with the people dealing with the accident as they will be seeing some horrendous sights.

Rosemary

One local source now reporting only about 20 survivors, rest died in the aircraft fire - please God that isn't accurate, but its a reliable source.

How must it feel to be on an aircraft, trying to take off, knowing that it failed the first time? the same thing occurs to me when I think of Munich.