Plane skids off runway in Madrid

[Mike Scott]

A passenger plane has skidded off a runway on takeoff at Madrid airport, local media report.

Fatalities are feared and several injuries have been reported.

The plane belonged to Spanair, a major charter carrier, and some 160 people were on board at the time of the incident, reports say.

The cause of the apparent accident remains unknown. TV footage showed smoke billowing from the craft, which was destined for Gran Canaria.

Emergency services are attending the scene.

Weather conditions in Madrid were fine at the time of the incident

[Montague S]

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/20/plane.crash.madrid/index.html

bit more on the story...

[Rhys Xanthis]

Reports that all but 25 feared dead.

EDIT: Spanish G'ment confirmed 30+ dead (this is all from airliners.net forums).

[David Knudsen]

A/C was EC-HFP (MD82, CN53148/2072 Built 11/93, ex KAL) - Now 145 of 173 passengers confirmed dead.

[Jamie D]

This is awful, condolences from my family to all those affected by this tradgedy

[Greg F]

This is really sad.
My thoughts are with those affected by this terrible tragedy.

[AdamC]

condolences to all the peoples families involved.

It's amazing the 25 people survived, how on earth do you survive something like that. Where would they have been sitting?

[Nigel C]

Where would they have been sitting?
In the right place at the right time.

Now the survivors have to live with the memories of such a horror, while at the same time try to feel blessed that they've been spared what would have been a horrible death for most.

[Justin L]

Here's an interactive piece from the SMH:

http://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2008/world/spanair-crash/index.html

[Sarmad Al-Khozaie]

Great way to invade privacy of people who lost their lives!!!


http://www.spanair.com/web/en-gb/DSite/Listing-of-passengers/

[Scott Lindsell]

A/C was EC-HFP (MD82, CN53148/2072 Built 11/93, ex KAL) - Now 145 of 173 passengers confirmed dead.


This machine also wears the 'Star Alliance' livery. I'm sure the first STAR livery to meet this sad fate.
I understand the passenger lists being published are somewhat standard procedures in some countries but looking at it there may be some families on board with 4/5 people lost.
:(

[Rhys Xanthis]

Great way to invade privacy of people who lost their lives!!!


http://www.spanair.com/web/en-gb/DSite/Listing-of-passengers/

That is not cool...unless they have contacted families of all victims with permission to post it - and i dont think they have.

[Montague S]

absolutely nothing wrong with posting a passenger list, its the most accurate way for families to get correct information on those who've perished or were onboard.

and if you people bothered to read the press releases then you'd note that Spanair contacted the families before releasing the names.

http://www.spanair.com/web/en-gb/DSite/Last-official-notice/

[Joseph Saragozza.]

so sad.
my condolences and prayers are with the victims and their families.
my they all rest in peace.

[Philip Argy]

Here is an extract of a report in The Times with some comments that I don't think have previously been published:



Spanish media reported that the aircraft had already attempted one take-off but had experienced difficulties. Mr Garcia told El Mundo: "The aircraft was going to take off and the pilot realised there was a fault in the left engine and he returned (to the stand). They were thinking of changing aircraft and finally they authorised the departure in order to avoid more delay."
The plane had originally been due to take off at 1.05pm.
El Mundo reported that Spanair had confirmed that before takeoff the pilot had reported a fault in the external temperature gauge, but that this had been repaired.

Another newspaper, La Vanguardia, said that the pilot had been unable to lift the plane's nose. Spanish pilots have questioned whether an engine fire could have caused the fatal crash. One pilot, Carlos Martinez, said once the aircraft has reached take-off speed it would take off, even with an engine stopped or on fire. "All crews are trained for this and if the correct procedure is followed, it doesn't have to end in an accident," he told El Mundo.
A military pilot, Juan Carlos Otero Fernandez, said the way the plane fell was strange. "Normally if the left engine goes, the aircraft veers to the left, since all the power of the other engine throws you in that direction," he said. "But the aircraft fell on the right side of the runway."

[D Chan]

absolutely nothing wrong with posting a passenger list, its the most accurate way for families to get correct information on those who've perished or were onboard.

and if you people bothered to read the press releases then you'd note that Spanair contacted the families before releasing the names.

http://www.spanair.com/web/en-gb/DSite/Last-official-notice/

the same thing was done with the TAM A320 crash after it skid off the runway in Brazil..

pretty much standard procedures I think in those parts of the world

[Justin L]

I think these people are the luckiest.

And then there was the Spanish couple who were three minutes late and missed the flight altogether. Ertoma Bolanos said that he and his girlfriend Almudena checked in but did not make it to the gate in time. They learned of the crash when Almudena's family called to say they had seen footage of it on TV.

Full article here:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/survivors-what-happened/2008/08/22/1219262456271.html

[Kieran Wells]

my condolances go to the families, andall those involved. Was interested to see it was a "STAR" livery. Also found this video from Spanair regarding the incident.

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1741168452

[Tony G]

Technicians may face charges that caused the MD-82 to crash. Found this article on the net.

http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php?/news/comments/spanair_jet_that_crashed_in_madrid_spain_checks_we re_inadequate_report/