'Passengers tried to leave'
2008-08-22 21:20
Madrid - A worried passenger aboard an ill-fated Spanair jet which crashed killing 153 people had asked to leave the plane just before the accident but was prevented from doing so, Spanish newspapers said Friday.
Relatives of the passenger, Ruben Santana, said he sent text messages on his mobile phone as technicians were repairing a technical fault that delayed takeoff by about one hour.
The plane crashed moments after takeoff from Madrid's airport on Wednesday.
"They are not letting us leave, it's all closed," he said in a text message to his wife, who asked him to get off the plane.
Spanair said on Thursday that the plane had initially taxied to the runway before returning to the gate where technicians repaired a faulty air intake valve in the cockpit.
Several other passengers were prevented from leaving the plane before takeoff, the ABC newspaper said.
It said only the captain had the authority to decide whether to allow the passengers to leave. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA