Spanair flight JK5022, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (EC-HFP) bound for Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), crashed today on takeoff from runway 36L at Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), Spain. It’s reported that the plane caught fire after overshooting the runway due to an engine failure during takeoff. Spanair reports that 164 passengers and 9 crew were on board. According to various media there are about 140 casualties.
Flight JK5022 was a codeshare flight with Lufthansa flight LH2554.
Videos:
Video by BBC
Raw video by Reuters
Video by AP
Eye Witness Report:
News story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/20/spain3
Video: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/aug/20/madridplanecrash
Are they sure that this initial problem with the total air temperature sensor, measure true air speed, had nothing to do with the catastrophe?
If I understand correctly, indicated and not true air speed is needed for take-off, but it sounds like the plane was going too slow during take-off and could have stalled (ala Florida Air):
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/23/europe/EU-Spain-Plane-Crash.php
Do pilots only need indicated and not true air speed for take-off?
Could be a reverser bucket that unlocked…