A Spanish plane with some 160 people onboard veered off the runway and caught fire while taking off at Madrid's Barajas airport Wednesday, killing at least 45 and injuring scores of others, said Spanish authorities.
Nineteen of those hurt received serious injuries, the Interior Ministry said.
Airport authorities said engine fire may have caused the accident.
Witnesses saw columns of smoke rising from the aircraft whose left engine was said to be on fire.
The Spanair Flight JK5022 was bound for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, a popular resort off West Africa. The MD-80 jet shot off the runway at Terminal Four while taking off.
Emergency vehicles and helicopters surround the area where a plane skidded off the runway and crashed at Madrid's Barajas airport August 20, 2008. The airport remains operating after the disaster while rescue underway.
Scandianvian airline SAS which owns Spanair confirmed that 166 passengers and six crews were on board.
The SAS spokeswoman Henriette Eilekrogan said an emergency phone number has been set up for passengers' families and additional rescue workers have been sent to Madrid to help with the crisis there.
Source:Xinhua
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