At least 151 killed in crash at Madrid airport

MADRID: At least 151 people were killed and around 20 injured when a Spanish airliner crashed at Madrid's airport on Wednesday, national radio said, quoting official sources in the Madrid region.

The government has declined to give an official figure on the number of dead in the crash of the Spanair MD-82, which burst into flames during takeoff on a flight to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.

Spanair said there were 164 passengers and nine crew on board.

Public Works Minister Magdalena Alvarez said there were 26 survivors.

"We have not been able to confirm the number of dead, but it is very high," she said.

The head of the emergency and rescue services in Madrid, Ervigio Corral, said there were 28 survivors, some of whom were able to "walk away" from the accident.

He told reporters eight of injured were in "very serious condition", and the bodies were scattered over a wide area.

Spanish media have given figures of between 140 and 150 dead.