The “black box” flight data recorder will hold a clue to the likely cause of the devastating Madrid air crash which claimed more than 150 lives, air experts said today.

Authorities in Madrid are beginning the grim task of identifying 153 victims burned to death when a jet heading to the Canary Islands crashed on take-off.

A man armed with a knife attempted to take over an airliner flying from Colombia to Spain as it approached Madrid’s Barajas Airport today.