Madrid Spanair Airline Crash - 8/20/08

A jetliner heading to the popular Canary Islands vacation resort crashed during takeoff. Some 153 were believed dead in Spain's worst air disaster in nearly 25 years.

Reports say the plane actually raised to the skies and then fell back on the ground, to later overrun the runway and break into several parts while catching fire and releasing large plumes of smoke that was visible from a distance around the airport. As seen on video there were two plumes of smoke, which indeed would confirm that the plane had broken into at least two parts.

Reports also indicate that there may have been a malfunction of the takeoff warning system (TOWS) and other operative systems that were critical for proper operation of the plane.

According to the airline, the flight was already more than one hour late, due to a technical issue with the plane that forced the first takeoff attempt to be aborted as there were failure signals while pulling away from the terminal. The aircraft was inspected and then tried to take-off for the second time, which ended in the catastrophe.

The McDonnel-Douglas MD-82 type has suffered other engine fire related incidents before. This particular plane first flew in 1993 for Korean Air and has been operated by Spanair since 1999. It had its last major check in January this year.

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