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MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- An aircraft heading to the Canary Islands came off the runway at a Madrid airport Wednesday, throwing up clouds of gray and black smoke and reportedly causing casualties.

Spain's two leading newspapers are reporting at least 25 people were killed in the incident, but CNN could not independently confirm those figures.

Officials at Barajas Airport said there were believed to be injuries from the crash which may have been caused by an engine on the Spanish budget airline jet catching fire.

The incident happened as Spanair Flight 5022 was taking off from the main runway, the official said. It was headed to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, a more than two-hour flight. Watch smoke rising from airport Video

The Red Cross in Spain told CNN that it has set up a field hospital at the airport to treat the injured.

Spanair, owned by Scandinavian airline SAS, is one of Spain's three major private carriers.

CNN sister station CNN+ is reporting that the plane, an MD-80, may have veered off the runway after experiencing engine problems. Spanish media reported at least 11 fire engines were dispatched to control the blaze.

Media reports say around 160 people were on board.

Aviation analyst John Strickland told CNN the MD-80 is known as a reliable aircraft with a good safety record