From The Reader
Daily news and information in English for Spain
Three directors of Spanair airlines have been indicted on 154 counts of homicide after the 2008 crash at Barajas airport in Madrid.
Judge Javier Perez, investigating the Spanair plane crash occurred on August 20, 2008, has indicted the three heads of area for reckless homicide and reckless injury resulting in 18 crimes and 154 homicides.
Antonio V., in charge of the Spanair Base in Madrid at the time of the accident, David T., responsible for Line Maintenance, and S. Alexander, director of quality control at the time of the accident, have all been charged by the judge.
They have been ordered to appear before the Judge on 20, 21 and 22 June, along with Jesus T., the Spanair maintenance supervisor who was already charged in the case. (My emphasis).
The charges are produced following the conclusions of the expert report carried out by eight experts appointed by the judge and the expert report by a French expert in aircraft accidents.
Shortly before the crash, the aircraft had to return to the hangar after a first takeoff attempt after it detected a fault in the heater temperature sensor (RAT). One of the mechanics of the company consulted the minimum equipment manual (MEL) from Boeing and deactivated the RAT sensor heater. Since the beginning of the investigation, the instructor believes that "the failure of the RAT on August 20 was a consequence or manifestation of a multifunctional failure which also affect TOWS (that warn of an improperly configured for takeoff), fueled by same relay, which resulted in the crash".
(Note: The Reader is an online Spanish daily newspaper produced in English for expats)