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Four Die as Plane Crash-Lands in Southern Spain
Four people died on Wednesday when a Spanish plane crash-landed on a highway as it approached Malaga airport, trapping passengers in crushed rows of seats inside the aircraft, officials said. Twenty-six people were injured when the turbo-prop plane operated by regional airline Binter Mediterraneo came down on the road, about 50 yards short of the runway.
The plane, which was full with 44 passengers and three crew on board, was approaching the airport from Spain's North African enclave of Melilla, the airline said in a statement.
Malaga is the main airport serving Spain's south coast tourist resorts and is at its busiest in August at the height of the summer tourism season.
Two of the dead were passengers from Melilla and the third was a French passenger, a government spokesman said.
The plane's pilot died in hospital hours after the crash, Binter said. The two other crew were also hurt.
By Wednesday evening, 15 people remained in hospital, including two who were in intensive care, state radio said.
Pilots' union SEPLA said engine failure and strong winds probably caused the accident. Binter said the cause was unknown.
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