Airbus is signaling its strong commitment to its flagship military transport plane after the crash of a new A400M in Spain on Sunday that killed four and injured two on a test flight.
The brand new four-engine turboprop had just departed on its first shakedown flight after rolling out of the Airbus factory in Seville. The crew radioed they were returning to the airport after experiencing a problem. The airplane crashed near an industrial area a mile northeast of the airport at around 1 p.m. local time.
The six aboard the airplane were all Airbus employees, according to reports. The two who survived were taken to an area hospital with serious injuries.
Airbus officials planned to fly aboard an A400M today as a show of support for the airlifter. Air forces across Europe, meanwhile, suspended flights as they await more information about what may have caused the crash.
Built as a heavy lifter for NATO member nations, the A400M has suffered from repeated cost overruns and delays. Airbus has built fewer than a dozen since the airplane entered service in 2013. The A400M that crashed was due to be delivered to Turkey.
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