Madrid - The Spanair MD-82 passenger plane that crashed at Madrid airport had two technical problems shortly before the fatal flight, which killed 154 people, Spanish press reports Thursday quoted Spanair sources as saying.

The problems are usually regarded as minor, but experts said they might be connected to the accident on August 20.

Three days before the flight, a fault was found in the reverse thruster system of the right-side engine. The system helps planes to slow down when landing by reversing air flow from the turbine.

Technicians solved the problem by blocking the right-hand reverse, as they were allowed to do as a temporary solution.

The blockage of one of the reverse systems does not explain why the plane appeared to lack engine power during take-off.

It could, however, explain why the plane veered out of the runway immediately after take-off, the daily El Mundo quoted experts as saying.

The blocked right-hand reverse may have become unlocked, affecting the movements of the aircraft. The left-hand reverse thruster had also become activated for a reason that is not known.

Shortly before the flight, pilots also reported a problem with a temperature gauge. Technicians disconnected the gauge, and the plane left 1.5 hours behind schedule.

The gauge is not necessary for flying, but the problem could indicate that the plane's system had difficulty distinguishing between air and ground conditions, the daily El Pais quoted McDonnell Douglas pilots as saying.

Less than a month earlier, the same aircraft cancelled a take-off from Palma de Majorca because the captain noticed a strange noise coming from the front landing gear. (dpa)