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December 2, 2008 7:46:38 PM CST

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Flap Error May Have Caused Spanair Crash

Posted Sep 3, 08 4:00 PM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Pilots of the Spanair jet that crashed last month didn't extend the aircraft's flaps before takeoff—and an electrical malfunction likely kept them from getting a warning about it, the Wall Street Journal reports. The flaps, on the backs of wings, are needed for an extra lift when an aircraft takes off. Investigators are looking at why a pre-takeoff checklist didn't catch the error.

Source Wall Street Journal

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A plane takes off near the site where a Spanair jet crashed last month.   (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Police patrol the area near the crash site of the Spanair jet at the airport in Madrid.   (AP Photo/I. Lopez)
Pilots failed to extend the wing flaps before takeoff, investigators have found.   (AP Photo/EFE)
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Spain • plane crash • Madrid • Spanair • investigations • Canary Islands


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