Queen 'shocked' by air disaster

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In a message to King Juan Carlos of Spain, she said: "I was deeply saddened to learn of the dreadful loss of life in the air crash at Barajas airport in Madrid, the news of which has shocked us all.

"Philip joins me in sending our warm and heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of those who have died and our best wishes for a speedy recovery to those who have been injured."

She added: "At this difficult time all those affected by this tragedy are in our thoughts and prayers."

A Downing Street spokesman said the Prime Minister was also "deeply sorry" to hear of the loss of life caused by the crash. The spokesman said: "His thoughts are with the Spanish people and all those affected by the tragedy."

Spanair Flight JK5022 crashed into the runway at Barajas airport shortly after take off on a flight bound for the Canary Islands. The crash killed 153 people, according to Spanish Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez.

Spanair spokeswoman Henrietta Ellekrog told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the plane's black box flight recorder has been recovered.

She said: "Obviously, everybody is searching for information and everybody is keen on learning the cause of the accident.

"This is a very deeply tragic accident but right now our primary concern is for the family and the next of kin of the passengers and the crew on board."

Kieran Daly, editor of Air Transport Intelligence, told Today that an engine problem was the "obvious suspect" whenever there was a crash on take-off.