Airbus A400M crashes in Spain

In a huge setback to Airbus Defense and Space's already struggling program, an A400M new generation airlifter crashed near Sevil...

In a huge setback to Airbus Defense and Space's already struggling program, an A400M new generation airlifter crashed near Sevilla Airport, Spain, today at around 13:00 local time during a flight test.

The production aircraft with the serial number MSN023, was fifteen minutes into its first production flight from the A400M Final Assembly Line in Seville.

Airbus confirmed that 4 of the 6 crew members onboard died in the accident. The 2 other crew members are currently in hospital in a serious condition.

The MSN023 was foreseen to be the third aircraft to be delivered to the Turkish customer. The formal delivery was scheduled for June 2015.

The new generation airlifter entered into service with French Air Force in 2013, and is currently operated by UK, Malaysia, Germany and Turkey. UK has grounded its A400M fleet until the cause has been ascertained. French and UK fleet has achieved Initial Operational Clearance.

Fuselage nose of the crashed A400M

The four engines provide an inherent safety and redundancy to the aircraft, but crash of one of the most advanced airlifter has put a big question on the aircraft's safety. In 2014, an Indian Air Force C-130J Hercules airlifter crashed during a low level training mission, which was later found to be due to flying into the wake of another C-130J ahead. 

Airbus has been struggling with development of the four engined turboprop aircraft due to developmental delays and cost overuns. The delays have led to a management shake-up this year. On March 1, Airbus flight-test operations chief Fernando Alonso took over as head of the Military Aircraft business unit, replacing Domingo Urena-Raso.

Engine and landing gear wreckage

Moreover, the delivered aircraft did not met all the contractual specifications interms of capability and some had quality issues. According to Der Spiegel, German military inspectors found 875 defects, including missing insulation of electric cables and leaked hydraulic oil on the main landing gear and tires, on the first German A400M.

Turkey initially refused to accept its first of 10 A400Ms for several months citing capability shortfalls.

The A400M is powered by four 11,000 shp Europrop TP400 turboprop engines. It can carry up to 116 fully-equipped paratroopers or 37 tonnes of payload, and additionally can serve as an air-to-air refueller capable of refuelling fast jets, other large aircraft and helicopters.