Madrid - The Spanish transport ministry rejected claims it leaked confidential details of its investigation into the August 20 Spanair air crash which killed 154 people and left 18 injured in Madrid, the Spanish media reported Saturday
"I am also disgusted by this. This is a lack of respect for the survivors," Minister Magdalena Alvarez was quoted as saying, adding she would ensure that those responsible for the leaks would be brought to justice.
Earlier this week, a preliminary report of the commission investigating the crash was leaked, revealing that the Spanair MD-82 jetliner's wing flaps were not properly extended and that the plane's take-off warning system failed to alert the pilots of the problem.
Jakarta - At least seven people were injured when turbulence hit a Boeing 747-400 jetliner belonging to China Airlines on Saturday en route from Taipei to Indonesia's Bali island, an airport official said.
A spokesman for the Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport named Dimyati said the CAL-687 jet carrying 357 people dropped drastically to about 25,000-feet altitude from 35,000 feet, jolting passengers.
Rome - Italy's near-bankrupt flagship carrier, Alitalia, is to continue with regular scheduled flights, at least until Monday September 22, according to the airline's government-appointed commissioner.
"Much depends on what will happen in the next few days," Commissioner Augusto Fantozzi said in the aftermath Thursday of the collapse of a bid by a consortium of private investors to take control of the state's controlling stake in Alitalia.
Fantozzi said that by law the company was compelled to continue providing services as long as funds are available. The commissioner indicated last week that money to buy fuel was in short supply.
Athens - More than 200 workers at Greek state carrier Olympic Airlines blocked the taxiway at Athens International Airport for more than 20 minutes Thursday over plans to shut down and privatise the airline.
The demonstration ended up blocking the runway but did not affect any flights, officials at the airport said.
Madrid - The Spanair MD-82 jetliner that crashed in Madrid on August 20 was started by the co-pilot, press reports said Thursday.
The reports quoted a preliminary report by a commission investigating the accident, which has been leaked to the media.
The plane crashed at the airport after take-off, killing 154 and injuring 18 people.
The information transmitted to the plane's black box originated in the computer of the 31-year-old co-pilot, who had more than 1,050 hours of experience flying similar planes, according to the daily El Pais.
It was not unusual for the captain and co-pilot to take turns during flights, sources of the aviation sector were quoted as saying.
Jakarta - At least seven people were injured when turbulence hit a Boeing 747-400 jetliner belonging to China Airlines on Saturday en route from Taipei to Indonesia's Bali island, an airport official said.
Athens - More than 200 workers at Greek state carrier Olympic Airlines blocked the taxiway at Athens International Airport for more than 20 minutes Thursday over plans to shut down and privatise the airline.
