Spain

New complaints against investigators of Madrid air crash

New complaints against investigators of Madrid air crash The commission investigating the August 20 air crash in Madrid, which killed 154 people, was Wednesday accused of delays in investigating other accidents, which could jeopardize air safety.

The commission had not yet issued the results of 51 investigations on accidents which occurred more than 12 months ago, the time limit set by the European Union and other international organizations, the daily Periodico de Catalunya reported.

Heavy rains cause flooding in Spain

Jaen, Spain  - Heavy rains led to flooding Wednesday in the southern Spanish Jaen province, leaving streets under 70 centimetres of water in some places, emergency services said.

French police detain at least four pro-ETA party members

Madrid - French police Wednesday detained at least four members of Batasuna, regarded as the political wing of the militant Basque separatist group ETA, Spanish media reported.

The arrests were made in several locations in southern France. The detainees included Batasuna spokesman Xabi Larralde. Police were searching the Batasuna headquarters in Bayonne.

Batasuna was outlawed in Spain in 2003. It is, however, legal in France, where it is registered as an association, according to Spanish media.

The detentions followed those of two suspected ETA members in central France on Tuesday.

Iberia stops historic flights between Madrid and Gibraltar

Iberia stops historic flights between Madrid and Gibraltar Gibraltar  - The Spanish airline Iberia will stop the historic flights between Madrid and the British enclave of Gibraltar, sources of the airline said Tuesday.

Iberia said the route was not profitable enough. The last flight was scheduled for Sunday.

The flights were part of a 2006 agreement lifting some of the restrictions of movement and telecommunications between Spain and the enclave which Madrid has claimed for three centuries.

The agreement included the joint use of Gibraltar airport.

Drunken pilots fight five hours before flight in Spain

Drunken pilots fight five hours before flight in Spain Vigo, Spain  - A captain and co-pilot of the Spanish carrier Air Europa fought in front of their hotel in a state of drunkenness five hours before they were due to fly together, the newspaper Faro de Vigo reported Monday.

Police separated the two men, dressed in uniforms of the airline, who were beating each other up early Sunday in the north-western city of Vigo.

Air Europa suspended the pilots from service and launched an investigation into the incident.

Spain suspends operating licence of Futura Airways

Spain suspends operating licence of Futura Airways Palma de Majorca, Spain - The Spanish civil aviation authorities have suspended the operating licence of Futura International Airways after it sought bankruptcy protection, the charter carrier said Monday.

The licence could, however, be reactivated if Futura found an investor to finance its savings plan before 2009, the airline quoted the aviation authorities as saying.

Futura chairman Roman Pane earlier said the airline would reduce its staff of nearly 1,200 by half and trim its high-season fleet from 22 to about 12 aircraft.

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