'At least 100' dead on Spanair flight bound for Las Palmas from Madrid

Distraught relatives of those on board have been gathering at both Madrid and the destination airport of Las Palmas as thick plumes of smoke billowed from the plane's wreckage.

A huge rescue operation is underway with scores of fire engines and ambulances on the scene and there are reports of a large area of burnt land around the plane.

The Spanair passenger plane was on an internal flight bound for Gran Canaria from Madrid's Barajas airport.

Shortly after 2.30pm local time, the MD-82 aircraft was on the north bound terminal four runway.

It's been reported that the left engine caught fire as it was making it's second attempt to take off, forcing it to swerve off the runway at terminal four.

On board the flight were 164 passengers and nine crew members.

The Spanish government has said at least 100 passengers are dead and that there are 27 survivors, all of whom are badly injured.

Jane Dodge reports

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