SPAIN: Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero cuts holiday short while angry relatives of plane crash arrive at morgue

Record ID: 402020

  • Title: SPAIN: Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero cuts holiday short while angry relatives of plane crash arrive at morgue
  • Date: 21st August 2008
  • Summary: (W5) MADRID, SPAIN (AUGUST 20, 2008) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VANS TRANSPORTING BODIES ARRIVING AT MORGUE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UNIDENTIFIED RELATIVE OF A VICTIM, ARRIVING AT MORGUE AND SAYING FROM INSIDE VEHICLE: "Son of a bitch, they killed them." VICTORIA, WOMAN ON BACK SEAT OF THE SAME CAR, SAYING: We asked for justice, please, only justice." MORE VEHICLES WITH RELAT
  • Embargoed: 5th September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA90O5U68AU1DBX5UFR4XTXP342
  • Story Text: The bodies of at least 153 people killed in a plane crash at Madrid's airport were transferred by dozens of forensic vans on Wednesday (August 20) night from the crash site to an improvised morgue set up by the Spanish government in an exhibition centre.
    Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero who interrupted his holidays in southern Spain to fly to the crash scene, where he promised a thorough investigation into the causes of the crash.

    "The government will make all its efforts to support the families in this hard moment as they have received the news of such tragedy. I also want to underline my recognition to the great cordination work that the central government has made along with the government of Madrid in order to cope with this tragic moment, "Zapatero told reporters.
    Tearful relatives arrived at the improvised morgue demanded a deep investigation of the causes of the crash.

    "We ask for justice, please, only justice," said Victoria as she arrived to the morgue to identify the body of her niece.
    The 15-year-old plane owned by Spanair shot off the Madrid airport's runway at 2:45 pm local time (1245 GMT), according to the airline , which put the total number of people aboard at a higher figure than government officials, with 166 passengers and nine crew.
    The crash appeared to be Spain's worst since 1983, when an Avianca Boeing 747 crashed approaching the same airport, killing 181.
    Spanair, owned by Scandinavian Airlines Systems (SAS), has been struggling with high fuel prices and tough competition. It announced it was laying off 1,062 staff and cutting routes after losing $81 million in the first half of the year.
    Hours before the crash, Spanair's pilots threatened to strike. SAS has been trying to sell Spanair since last year.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register