Spain's civil aviation chief said a glitch in an air temperature gauge that forced the doomed Spanair jet to abandon its first take-off attempt an hour before it crashed should be examined.

THE MD-82 plane that crashed in Madrid is part of the MD 80 series commonly seen in Irish airports. The aircraft series is regarded by industry watchers as having a good safety record.

WITNESSES said the left engine on the stricken Spanair plane burst into flames as the aircraft left the ground — known as “the point of no return”.

A Spanish airliner bound for the Canary Islands at the height of the holiday season crashed, burned and broke into pieces today while trying to take off from Madrid, killing 149 people on board, officials said.

A plane carrying holidaymakers crashed today in western Venezuela after reporting engine problems, killing all 160 people on board, officials said.

Officials said there appear to be no survivors as a plane carrying residents of the French island of Martinique crashed in western Venezuela with at least 160 people on board today.

THE boss of US aviation giant Boeing was forced out in disgrace yesterday after his affair with a woman executive at the company was uncovered.

THE makers of an aircraft forced to make an emergency landing at Shannon Airport have been advised to notify airlines worldwide of the cause.