[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."