Dozens dead in Madrid plane crash

(20 August 2008)

At least 45 people have been killed after a passenger plane skidded off the runway at Madrid's Barajas airport.

Local reports suggest that the death toll could be much higher, with many people injured.

The Spanair plane was taking off for Las Palmas around 1445 (1245 GMT) when a fire sparked in the left engine, reports say.

The plane, carrying around 160 passengers, then came down during or slightly after take-off and skidded across the terminal 4 runway into a field.

“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 1445 local time today”, said the airline in a statement.

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