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from cnn.com:

MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- An aircraft heading to the Canary Islands crashed on take off at a Madrid airport Wednesday killing some of those on board, officials said.


Smoke could be seen rising from the end of the runway at Madrid's Barajas Airport.

Spain's two leading newspapers are reporting at least 25 people were killed in the incident, but CNN could not independently confirm those figures.

The office of Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told CNN there were fatalities, but did not release any figures.

Officials at Barajas Airport said the crash may have been caused by an engine on the Spanish budget airline jet catching fire.

The incident happened as Spanair Flight 5022 was taking off from the main runway, the official said. It was headed to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, a more than two-hour flight.

The Red Cross in Spain told CNN that it has set up a field hospital at the airport to treat the injured.

Spanair, owned by Scandinavian airline SAS, is one of Spain's three major private carriers.

CNN sister station CNN+ is reporting that the plane, an MD-80, may have veered off the runway after experiencing engine problems. Spanish media reported at least 11 fire engines were dispatched to control the blaze.

Media reports say around 160 people were on board. iReport: Send us your pictures, video, information.

Aviation analyst John Strickland told CNN the MD-80 is known as a reliable aircraft with a good safety record.