On Wednesday 20 August 2008, a Spanair flight JK502 crashed on take-off at Barajas Airport, Madrid en route for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. As I write this more than 150 are reported as dead and many more are in critcial condition in Madrid hospitals. As a Lufthansa code-share flight on a MD 80 there were passengers from a number of countries on board, a fact that is making the horrendous task of identifying the bodies even more difficult. Amazingly there were survivors among the 162 passengers and 10 crew
The cause of the accident is not clear although initial findings suggest the failure of the left engine at the moment of take-off.
A temporary morgue was set-up at IFEMA in Madrid and an enormous rescue operation with over 450 ambulance, police and firefighters immediately swung into operation. Politicians of all political parties immediately cast aside their differences and showed their support for the families and friends of the dead and injured. Prime minister José Luis Zapatero promised a fast and in-depth investigation.
This was the worst air-accident in Spain for many years and although there is no suggestion whatsoever of terrorist involvment all Spain was reminded of the atrocities of 11 March 2004 and the bombings of that horrific day.
Spanair MD 80
España. de luto. Spain, in mourning.
Tags: Airport, Barajas, Madrid, plane-crash, Spain
