Germany grounds Airbus A400M after Spain crash

BERLIN - Agence France-Presse

A view shows the wreckage of an Airbus A400M military transport plane after it crashed near Sevilla on May 9, 2015. AFP PHOTO / CRISTINA QUICLER

Germany’s air force has temporarily grounded its sole Airbus A400M until an investigation determines the cause of the crash of a plane of the same type in Spain, a military spokesman said May 10.
 
At least four people were killed Saturday when an A400M crashed near Seville airport in southern Spain during a test flight, the first fatal incident involving the new transport craft.

"After the A400M crash near Seville it was decided Saturday to suspend until further notice the test flights of the German defence forces’ sole A400M," an armed forces press officer told AFP.

The spokesman added that "since its delivery in December the machine has been in the air on a regular basis". 

"Now we are awaiting results from Airbus on why the A400M crashed near Seville. We are in constant contact with Airbus."

The first of the A400Ms was delivered to France in 2013, with subsequent planes sold to Turkey, Britain, Germany and Malaysia. A total of 174 A400M planes have been ordered, including 50 by France, 53 by Germany, 27 by Spain and 22 by Britain.