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At least 45 people have been killed after a passenger plane swerved off the runway at Madrid's Barajas airport, Spanish officials say.
Local media report the death toll could be much higher. Dozens of people are injured.
The Spanair plane was taking off for Gran Canaria at about 1445 (1245 GMT), with about 160 people on board. There were reports of a fire in the left engine during take-off. TV footage showed smoke billowing from the craft.
Emergency services are attending the scene.
Weather conditions in Madrid were fine at the time of the incident.
The plane, which was destined for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, came down during or shortly after take-off, local media say, quoting aviation authorities.
It skidded off the runway at terminal four into fields, says the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid.
"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 hours local time today," the airline said in a statement.
The aircraft was a MD82, a plane commonly used on short trips around Europe, aviation expert Chris Yates told the BBC. He said Spanair, a subsidiary of Scandinavian carrier SAS, had a very good safety record.
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Local media report the death toll could be much higher. Dozens of people are injured.
The Spanair plane was taking off for Gran Canaria at about 1445 (1245 GMT), with about 160 people on board. There were reports of a fire in the left engine during take-off. TV footage showed smoke billowing from the craft.
Emergency services are attending the scene.
Weather conditions in Madrid were fine at the time of the incident.
The plane, which was destined for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, came down during or shortly after take-off, local media say, quoting aviation authorities.
It skidded off the runway at terminal four into fields, says the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid.
"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 hours local time today," the airline said in a statement.
The aircraft was a MD82, a plane commonly used on short trips around Europe, aviation expert Chris Yates told the BBC. He said Spanair, a subsidiary of Scandinavian carrier SAS, had a very good safety record.
Source & Video
