Spanair Flight 5022 facts for kids
Spanair Flight 5022 was a passenger flight that crashed on August 20, 2008. The plane was flying from Barcelona, Spain, to Gran Canaria, with a stop in Madrid. Shortly after taking off from Barajas Airport in Madrid, the McDonnell Douglas MD-82 aircraft crashed. Out of 172 people on board, 154 passengers and crew members sadly died. Only 18 people survived the accident.
The main reason for the crash was that the pilots did not set up the plane's wings correctly for takeoff. This meant the plane could not fly properly.
What Happened?
On August 20, 2008, Spanair Flight 5022 was getting ready to leave Madrid. The plane was a McDonnell Douglas MD-82. It was supposed to fly to Gran Canaria. During the takeoff, something went wrong. The plane's flaps and slats were not in the right position. Flaps and slats are parts of the wings that help an airplane lift off the ground. They make the wings bigger and create more lift.
Because these parts were not set correctly, the plane could not gain enough height. It struggled to fly and crashed soon after leaving the runway. This type of mistake by the pilots is called "pilot error." It means a mistake was made during the flight operation.
The Aircraft
The airplane involved in the accident was a McDonnell Douglas MD-82. This type of plane is a twin-engine jet. It is designed for short to medium-range flights. The MD-80 series, which includes the MD-82, was very popular. Many airlines around the world used these planes. They were known for being reliable. However, like all complex machines, they need to be set up perfectly for every flight.
After the Accident
After the crash, emergency teams quickly arrived at the scene. They worked hard to help the survivors. The accident was a very sad event for Spain and for everyone involved. Investigators immediately started looking into why the crash happened. They wanted to understand exactly what went wrong. Their detailed investigation found that the main cause was the incorrect setup of the wing parts. This tragic event led to new safety checks and rules for airlines. These changes help make sure similar accidents do not happen again.
See also
In Spanish: Vuelo 5022 de Spanair para niños
