Authorities are investigating what caused a Spanish passenger jet to crash on takeoff from a Madrid airport, killing 153 people in the country's worst air disaster in more than two decades.
The Spanair plane was carrying 172 people, including the crew, when it veered off the runway during takeoff Wednesday, broke into pieces and burst into flames.
Spain's Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez said most of the 19 people who survived the accident were injured.
It was not immediately clear what went wrong, but investigators ruled out foul play. Alvarez said the plane's two black box (flight data) recorders were recovered, and that they should help determine what caused the crash.
The plane was bound for the Canary Islands.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
