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.
A file photograph shows a Spanair aircraft.
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, which sent a plume of smoke visible from kilometers away, 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. Watch smoke rising from
airport 
The Red Cross in Spain told CNN that it has set up a field hospital at the airport to treat the injured.
Spanish journalist Carlota Fomina told CNN said she had spoken to one of the passengers who had been on board the plane at the time of the crash who described an explosion and fire at the back of the plane.
She said they the plane appeared to make a relatively controlled landing.
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.
• The airline has issued an emergency number for families of passengers: +34 800 400 200
sorry I'm just bit scarried about those things
