SPAIN: Spanair representatives arrive for meeting with relatives of Madrid's plane crash

Record ID: 1537713

  • Title: SPAIN: Spanair representatives arrive for meeting with relatives of Madrid's plane crash
  • Date: 24th August 2008
  • Summary: (BN15) MADRID, SPAIN (AUGUST 23, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SPANAIR MODEL MD-82D PLANE TAKING OFF FROM MADRID AIRPORT
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2008 00:36
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVAUOXVHYZDIL2J2PJBO834RWAC
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Spanair representatives on Saturday (August 23) met with the relatives of the victims of ill-fated MD-82 jet which crashed on take-off for a flight to the Canary Islands.

    "Today they brought a technical person, I think he is a former chief of maintenance of the company, and a pilot. They tried to explain to us all the technical aspects: Why the plane was going to take off at 1305 and then it turned back in order to get a sensor repaired that is located under the pilot's cabin, that apparently was showing a high temperature on ground.
    So they decided to take off without that sensor that is apparently only needed when there is ice on the plane's surface and the parameters of the plane change," said Ismael Rodriguez, a relative of one of the victims.
    Spain's interior minister, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, said that it was important not only in terms of gaining closure for grieving relatives but also to avoid any further global incident.

    "Firstly we owe that investigation result to the victims but also we also owe it to all the passengers that are flying as we speak," he said. You must have into account that the MD is a model that is currently flying, therefore it is in the global we must know what happened."
    The death toll from Wednesday's crash of a Spanair <SAS.ST> passenger jet at Madrid airport rose to 154 on Saturday following the death of a badly burnt 31-year-old woman.
    Another 18 survivors are still being treated in hospital.
    The Spanish government has promised a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the crash, Spain's worst aviation disaster since 1983.
    The woman who died on Saturday was named by the Director of La Paz hospital as Maria Luisa Estevez.

    "Today, 'La Paz' Hospital regrets to inform that Maria Luisa Estevez Gonzalez has past away due to a systemic failure at 7 pm local. We can only support the family in this moment of grief. We regret Maria Luisa's death," said Carlos Malo.
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