General Chat

Just on Sky news now.
There's different reports on the amount of casualties. Was a Spanair plane flying to Gran Canaria.

Reuters have it as at least 21 dead. Awful.

Sue

Scarey stuff, I've flown to Madrid airport.

OMG That's the kind of thing that stops me from flying.

Pray to God for the poor sould

Confirmed 45 dead. 19 injured.

May they R.I.P.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7572643.stm

At least 20 killed.

Really really sad news. Fatalities unconfirmed but possibly 50+

Sad times for all the families.
Di

"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 Spanair plane was taking off for Gran Canaria at about 1445 local time, 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.

Nearly 150 people are feared dead after a plane overshot the runway at Madrid's Barajas airport, according to Spanish media reports.

Only 25 people survived when the Spanair flight JK 5022, which had 173 people on board, crashed after swerving off the runway at the airport's terminal four, according to the Reuters news agency.

The incident happened after the plane attempted to take off for a second time. Some observers said one of the left engines caught fire as the plane accelerated, causing it to swing off track. The plane reportedly broke in two. The airport has been closed.

An official with the Madrid emergency rescue service, Samur, said crews were removing injured people and bodies from the plane. "It is certain catastrophe," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Eleven fire engines were reportedly at the scene. The El Pais website said the accident sparked a small fire on a grassy area.

The flight was bound for Las Palmas, in Gran Canaria. Among the passengers on board the MD82 plane were two children.

How terrible, I am thinking and praying for the families of all concerned.

omg how awful :((:((:((

Not a pleasant thought. Poor people off on holiday. We travel to Tenerife via Madrid in just over a weeks time!!!! flying with iberia Air.

ann
Glos

How tragic, probably most of them looking forward to a holiday or returning from one on mainland Spain. May they rest in peace and their families gain strength from happy memories.

Lizxx

Son text me at 2-15 pm our time, not much news then have been watching on sky news.


tragic news my heart goes out to their families.

may they rest in peace,

Joan G xx

Its beginning to look like only about 25 people have survived this crash. How awful. My heart goes out ot the families.

love Theresa

Paul,

I find your comments quite offensive.

If there is a fatal road accident, it usually makes the local or national news if there are multiple casualties. The coach crash near Alton Towers made the news yesterday.

Elisabeth

Paul, the problem is exactly as you stated, people get killed every day on the roads, fortunately, there are not large fatal air accidents every day.

Paul,

I suppose that depends on where you live.

Here we hear daily about deaths on the road on the tv news and in the papers. Especially over a bank holiday weekend when road death rates tend to peak. But then maybe that says more about the society we live in rather than anything else.

I think the point is that its always sad when anyone dies, yes a fact of life but a sad fact of life.

No we cant do anything, except perhaps to offer our sympathies.

love Theresa

My husband just shouted in to me, 45 dead....
And the 19 injured, we just don't know what injured means at this point do we?
Poor souls.
Deanna X

More like 150 dead.....only 23 taken out alive..

I also find your comments offencive Paul.
Death is indeed a fact of life, but I have to thank God daily that I and mine are safe..... until the day we are NOT!

EVERY untimely death is a tragedy to the family concerned.
No matter how old they may be.
Deanna X

Just heard reported 27 survivors, all critically injured. He mentioned that there were 2 infants onboard but didnt say where thay were amongst the survivors.

God rest their souls.