Engine burst into flames after takeoff

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”.

The flight from the Spanish capital’s main Barajas airport to Las Palmas in Gran Canaria had 164 passengers and nine crew on board.

According to those who watched on in horror, the plane split in two and burst into flames as it smashed back to the ground shortly after takeoff from the airport’s terminal 2.