Spanair mechanics face crash quiz

The judge investigating the Madrid plane crash that killed 154 people in August is to question three mechanics on suspicion of manslaughter.

The two mechanics who checked the plane before take-off and Spanair's head of maintenance at Barajas will appear before the judge, court officials said.

The Spanish passenger jet crashed and burst into flames shortly after take-off at Madrid's Barajas airport.

An investigation said the plane's wing flaps had been set incorrectly.

Human error

Investigators say the two mechanics had deactivated a faulty temperature gauge, but failed to spot a problem with the aircraft's take-off warning system, which was operating on the same electronic relay.

Less than half an hour later, Spanair flight 5022 crashed after take-off, killing all but 18 passengers on board.

Investigators say the wing flaps - which should have provided lift - had not been deployed, and that the warning system failed to sound in the cockpit.

The suspicion, set out in court documents, is that the mechanics failed to pick up on a broader electrical fault, which would prove fatal, says the BBC's Steven Kingstone in Madrid.

The three men have formally been cited for the manslaughter of 154 people and for the injuries suffered by 18 survivors.

They are expected to give evidence in court next month.

Separately, the judge has set up a second investigation committee - consisting of pilots, flight engineers and mechanics - to run in parallel with an ongoing government-led inquiry.

The loss-making Spanish airline is owned by Scandinavia's SAS.

Earlier this month, it announced it would shed more than 1,000 jobs and cut capacity by 25%.

Spanair lost 515 million Swedish crowns ($71.72m; £39.69m) in the first half of 2008.

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