UPDATE:SAS aircraft crashes after take-off in Milan, Italy

Airline Industry Information, Oct 8, 2001

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

(Adds information on passengers, rescue work.)

SAS, the Scandinavian airline, has confirmed that an MD-87 aircraft with the flight number SK 686 crashed this morning (8 October) at around 0815 local time just after take-off from Milan's Linate airport, Italy.

A smaller aircraft, thought to be a Cessna of German origin, is also thought to have been involved in the accident that reportedly killed between 12 and 16 persons and injured up to a hundred. The SAS aircraft was carrying 104 passengers and six crew members aboard. Ansa, an Italian news agency, has reported that a smaller aircraft was in the way of the SAS aircraft at take-off. The SAS pilot apparently tried to avoid hitting the smaller aircraft and instead hit a hangar and both aircraft crashed and caught fire. There weather was reportedly foggy at the airport at the time of the accident.

Information unconfirmed by SAS claims that 12 people aboard the SAS aircraft and four people aboard the smaller aircraft were killed in the accident. Recent reports claim that 48 of the passengers on the SAS flight were Italians, but there is no information as to the nationality of the rest of the passengers. Work has reportedly been going on to get remaining victims out of the rubble created in the crash.

The aircraft was en route to Copenhagen, Denmark and if the initial figures are correct, it would reportedly be one of the worst accidents in the history of the airline.

The airport was closed immediately after the accident.

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