Spanair

The Spanish airline Spanair S.A. originally operated as an international charter, flying tourists from approximately 100 European airports to Spain. The airline continued to develop their company by establishing routes between the Spanish peninsula and the Balearic and Canary Islands. Spanair added long-distance routes to their operations in 1991.Spanair" A Few Words About Spanair

On August 20, 2008, a Spanair plane carrying nearly 170 passengers and crew members skidded off a runway in Madrid, Spain. At least 150 people were reportedly killed. On the day of the Spanair disaster, reports broke that the airline's pilots were threatening a strike.Times Online: 150 dead in Madrid Plane Crash Reuters: Spanair pilots threaten strike over company "chaos" (August 20, 2008)

On the day of the deadly Spanair crash disaster, news reports circulated that the airline's pilots union was considering a strike. In July 2008, Spanair's owner, SAS, announced it would cut the airline's workforce by about one quarter in an effort to offset rising gas prices and increased competition. Pilots said the company lacked a solid business plan.Telegraph.co.uk: Madrid air crash: Spanair profile (August 20, 2008) International Herald Tribune: Spanish airline Spanair cuts a third of its jobs... Reuters: Spanair pilots threaten strike over company "chaos" (August 20, 2008)

Scandanavian-based SAS announced in 2007 that it was putting the subsidiary up for sale. When no good offers were made, SAS withdrew the bid, and the company's stock price plummeted.Times Online: "Organised chaos" at crash airline Spanair (August 20, 2008) Telegraph.co.uk: Madrid air crash: Spanair profile (August 20, 2008)

On August 20, 2008, Spanair Flight #JK 5022 crashed and broke apart after failing to lift off from a runway at the Barajas airport in Madrid.The flight was also code shared with Lufthansa Flight #LH 2554. There were 164 passengers and 9 crew aboard the flight.Times Online: 150 dead in Madrid Plane Crash