146 reported killed in Madrid jet crash

MADRID: A Spanish tourist jet carrying 173 people careered off a Madrid airport runway and broke up in flames on Wednesday killing at least 146 people, national radio reported.

The Spanair MD-82 made an emergency landing just after taking off from Madrid-Barajas airport heading for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, according to an airport authority spokesman. Spanish media said an engine caught fire as it took off.

Smoke billowed from the wreckage of Flight JK 5022. Helicopters dropped water to douse the flames of the jet and grassfires caused by the crash.

The airport cancelled departures after the crash and restricted the number of flights arriving.

About 30 incoming flights were delayed by up to seven hours.Spanish national radio said 146 people died and 26 people were injured in the disaster.

The authorities earlier issued a provisional toll saying there were at least 45 dead and 40 injured - making it one of the worst air disasters in Europe in recent years. A spokesman said 15 of those injured were in serious condition.