Spanair Plane Overruns Runway, Catches Fire in Madrid (Update2)

By Paul Tobin

Aug. 20 (Bloomberg) -- A Spanair SA MD-80 jetliner caught fire after skidding off the runway at Madrid's Barajas International airport today. At least 45 people died, according to an official from the Red Cross, which attended the scene.

The narrowbody aircraft, manufactured by Boeing Co. unit McDonnell Douglas, crashed while attempting to take off for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, according to Scandinavian carrier SAS Group, Spanair's parent. The flight number was JK5022.

Television pictures showed a column of smoke billowing from the runway and a helicopter dropping water on the crash site. The MD-80 was carrying about 160 passengers, El Economista reported. Spanair has 36 of the aircraft in its fleet, according to the Madrid-based company's Web site.

``SAS is doing everything possible to help passengers and next-of-kin and to assist Spanish authorities at this difficult time,'' the Stockholm-based company said in a Cision newswire statement. ``SAS will provide further information as soon as it becomes available.''

McDonnell Douglas was bought by Boeing in 1997. MD-80 production ended in 2000, according to Airliners of the World.

``Boeing sends its deep condolences to the families and friends of those lost in the crash of Spanair flight 5022, and its wishes for the quick recovery of the injured,'' the Chicago-based company said in an e-mailed statement. ``We stand ready to provide technical assistance.''

The aircraft involved in today's crash was powered by engines manufactured by Hartford, Connecticut-based United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney division, Pratt spokesman Matthew Perra said by e-mail.

The last fatal civilian crash in Spain was in February 1985, when a Boeing 727 crashed on approach to Bilbao airport, according to the Aviation Safety Network. All 148 people on board the aircraft were killed, it said.

The Red Cross official spoke in an interview on CNN.

To contact the reporters on this story: Paul Tobin in Madrid at ptobin@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 20, 2008 10:59 EDT

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