153 people are killed in Madrid holiday plane crash
153 people died when the Spanair flight MD-82 packed with tourists headed for the Canary islands caught fire as it lifted off from Madrid Barajas airport on 20 August this year. Witnesses said the plane climbed barely 60 metres into the air before crashing down into a wooded area nearby. Some of the 19 people who survived apparently did so because they were thrown into a stream as the aircraft broke up, escaping the fireball that claimed many of the victims.
The plane was allowed to take off after aborting an initial attempt to get off the ground shortly before the accident. Spanair suggested that the pilot had complained about a faulty fuel gauge, but airport sources said that the plane might have suffered a mechanical problem. A flight coordinator at Madrid airport has said the aircraft already had two flights cancelled in the days leading up to the horrific accident, due to technical problems.
If you sustain an injury during a flight, or even when boarding and disembarking an aircraft, it is likely that we can pursue a claim for compensation for you. As the time limit for bringing such a claim is governed by international conventions, we would recommend that any injured party should seek advice on the matter without delay.
