Dozens feared dead as plane leaves runway in Spain

Dozens of people were feared dead after a Spanish airliner crashed on take-off from Madrid airport today.

The MD80 jet swerved off the runway and burst into flames. As emergency services surrounded it estimates of the death toll ranged from 45 up to 150.

Police said 164 people, including two babies had been on board Spanair flight JK5022 bound for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.

The Spanish government said 45 people had been confirmed dead with another 19 seriously injured.

Other reports in Spanish media said only a handful of passengers escaped the crash.

An official with the Madrid emergency rescue service SAMUR said crews were removing bodies and injured people from the plane.

“It is catastrophe,” he said.

Some observers said one of the left engines caught fire as the plane accelerated for take-off causing it to swing off track.

Airport fire services were at the scene of the crash in minutes.

The last major Spanish air accident was in Bilbao in 1985 when 148 people died as their airliner crashed approaching the city’s airport.