The death toll in the Spanair plane crash at Barajas airport in Madrid has been reported at 153, according to the latest data released by Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez. Nineteen survivors in the accident have been hospitalized, including two passengers whose condition is critical. There were 172 people on board the plane, including crew and children. The plane was made by the US McDonnel Douglas Company, Itar-Tass reported. Onlookers said the plane crashed when it attempted to take off after the plane's left hand engine caught fire. The plane crashed after being a few seconds airborne, went off the runway and broke in half. An independent commission set up to investigate the causes of the air disaster has been studying the plane's flight recorder. Relatives of the victims gathered at Barajas airport on Wednesday night. Throughout last night rescuers had been removing burnt bodies from under the plane wreckage. The plane had been in service for nine years. On January 25, 2008 McDonnel Douglas personnel okayed the plane's technical condition.
