[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

"Spanish journalist Carlota Fomina told CNN said she had spoken to one of the passengers who had been on board the plane at the time of the crash who described an explosion and fire at the back of the plane."

CNN.com: At least 40 killed in Madrid plane crash

[Scotswife]

ok. Question.
There isn’t any chance someone leaving from Madrid today and heading for Pittsburgh would have any reason to be on that plane?
right?

[cdbull23]

I've seen the toll go from 120 to 40 to 20 ... hopefully it's the lower figures.

Prayers for all those onboard.

[NonValueAdded]

[nuconvert]

Heard report that 19 people have been brought to a local hospital

[Paleo Conservative]

If you want on or off this aerospace ping list, please contact Paleo Conservative or phantomworker by Freep mail.

[modest proposal]

:(

Hope it wasn’t terrorists. The death count climb was kind of shocking. The initial headline i read was about 30 or so.

[Calpernia]

dear lord...

[Righter-than-Rush]

>>an explosion and fire at the back of the plane>>

No indication the plane tride to abort takeoff. Possibly a generator fire, but sounds more like one of the engines had a fuel problem, which would indicate why the plane had insufficient thrust to takeoff normally.

[FLCowboy,]

Why would the pilot still be trying to take off when the plane was on fire?

[prairiebreeze]

Terrible news. My daughter spent about 10 months in Madrid last fall and this spring but is back home now.

Prayers for those affected.

[RightWingTeen]

:-(

Spanair is a ‘Southwest/Ryan Air’ style airline. Cheap fares.

[NCjim]

Sky News has a running update

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Madrid-Plane-Crash-Line-By-Line-Headlines---Up-To-The-Minute-Updates/Article/200808315083162

Reports are that the plane got 200 feet off the ground and exploded. Also the plane had engine trouble 4 days ago, plus had unsuccessfully tried to take off before this attempt but had aborted with mechanics subsequently checking it out and clearing it.

Very sad.

[Turbopilot]

Earlier thread:

Seven dead in an aircraft accident in Barajas [Spain]

(Title was posted before the current casualty estimates; I've asked the mods to update it.)

[VOA]

“
The Spanair plane (snip) was heading for Las Palmas airport on the
island of Gran Canaria.
“

Note to self...never board an aircraft with Las Palmas as the destination.

(That’s where the two 747s were headed until diverted to their
appointment with destiny at Tenerife)

Tenerife Disaster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerife_disaster

[rdl6989]

147 reported dead.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26309867/

[sageb1]

I had the weirdest thing happen. I got up late this morning after being up until 4 a.m. I’d been dreaming. I don’t remember about what, but suddenly someone in my dream screamed, “Oh my God, he (a former astronaut) crashed!” It woke me up. I got up, went to my study, and turned on FOX News to see Harris Faulkner reporting this plane crash.

It gave me a very strange feeling that I haven’t quite been able to shake.

[firebrand]

“They’re all pinko Commies,” McCain laughs. . . . “I think he’d like that,” Hillary smiles.

I laugh and smile when newspaper people attempt to write dialogue.

[Former Fetus]

My family lives in Madrid. This is the peak of the summer season, since school does not begin until late September/early October. I have not been able to contact my dad, brother... Please, y’all, pray!

[csvset]

Many pics here