Reports of A400 Crash, Saville, Spain
 

http://twitter.com/airlivenet

Hope all ends as well as it can.

A400 crashed in Seville... AirLive.net: BREAKING A military plane crashs at Sevilla on Coca-Cola factory

From Twitter it is one of the Turkish Air Force batch.

Quite a plume https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VmnbLSyJvA

Spanish media has shown some surprisingly close up images of the firefighting/ operation.

Crashed almost straight after departure.

From RT: The aircraft was on a test flight, local TV station ABC de Sevilla said, adding that the crew contacted air traffic controllers about a technical failure after takeoff.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEkK4WXW0AAabfJ.png:large

For those who know me, I was NOT onboard - away from Spain at the moment, and due to a mobile phone faff, I cannot phone out/reply to messages. Desperately trying to find out more news - please can I ask that any/all speculation be avoided please out of respect for my colleagues. Thank you. PJ

Reuters and national TV reporting 2 survivors....

Reuters: "At least three people died when a military aircraft with seven people aboard crashed into an irrigation canal in agricultural land one mile to the north of Seville airport, emergency services said on Saturday.

Two more people have been transferred to hospital with serious injuries and a further two people are unaccounted for, emergency services said."

From one source:

Spanish air force cargo plane crashes near Seville airport | World news | The Guardian

That plot fits with some reports that the ac departed from 09 and requested an emergency landing on 27.

SEVILLE, Spain — An Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, which had been ordered by Turkey, crashed Saturday near the Seville airport, killing four crew members and gravely injuring two other crew members, Airbus Defence and Space said.

"We confirm that there has been an accident with an A400M in Sevilla," Airbus Defence and Space said in a statement. "Airbus is devastated to confirm that of a total crew of six on board we have lost four of our crew members in the accident," the company said. "Two other crew members are currently in hospital in a serious condition".

All the crew members are Airbus employees and are Spanish, the company said.

"We express our deepest sympathy. They were fellow countrymen," said Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Reuters reported..........

On Wednesday I was driving down the A303 past Boscombe Down & saw an RAF version flying an approach. It's now subject to a precautionary grounding.

Reports of A400 Crash, Saville, Spain
 

Any idea about the nature of this flight? Test? Acceptance?

Airbus Military is calling it a "first production flight". While that's not very clear, it was probably a first flight: handover from Production to Flight Test.
The customer did not seem to be involved.

I know this is a military only type but its a big beast of a plane . I know that Mil flying can have a higher risk than civilian but not that much higher in transports in peacetime.
So where are the pages and pages of theorising and speculation that a accompany any significant civil accident.
Not making light of things at all , far from it, this still cost the lives as no doubt dedicated aviation people just wondered why such a radical difference, these guys were professional pilots just the same.

Because, in the main, the pages on this forum are frequented by professionals, not a bunch of knob-heads

Perhaps post 7 is, sensibly, being observed? ?

Amen to that G-ARZG

Posted by 212man. quote "Because, in the main, the pages on this forum are frequented by professional pilots, not a bunch of knob-heads".

I have thought hard about replying to 212mans post but feel that I must. I object to the arrogant inference that if one is not a pilot one is a knob-head. 212 has demonstrated that at least one pilot fits into that category.

Very sad event in Spain, RIP to all those involved.

Mickj3,

I think 212man's post was more specific than you have inferred. His remark could apply equally to non-professional pilots. But this is neither the time nor the place to get into personal indignation. Think of the crew and family for now.

Actually, I amended very quickly after posting it, and removed the reference to pilots, so not sure why you haven't seen that. Sorry for the unintended offence

Thanks to all for the lack of wild theorizing and speculation. The Airbus Defence and Space website, and indeed the Airbus website, both tell you everything that is factually known thus far. Names are known to me, and I have lost 4 professional colleagues with a further 2 VSI. As a close, multinational team on the project it is a tragedy that is felt across the company. I am sure the names will be made public in due course by the company. I will not be revealing them on here, or via PMs out of respect to the families.

I must say, I admire Airbus' handling of this. I was busy with other things, and the first I heard of it was a press release from them.

In their second release, they used the phrase "devastated to confirm ..... we have lost 4 of our crew ...."

Not your usual corporate 'communication', I think.

Not only that, but each email included the names, phone numbers and emails of no less than seven people to contact if necessary.

Dignified way to behave.

airsound

I noticed a Bmi Regional Embraer hot-footing it down from Bristol to Seville yesterday (on FR24)....not a usual route, so I suspect related?

These things happen so rarely these days that they are the more shocking when they do, RIP and speedy recovery to those involved.

Tower Communications
 

Media have reported that the crew reported a technical problem. Has there been any indication that they stated the nature of the problem?

Also, many sources are now reporting that both flight recorders have been found. We should have some pretty solid information in a day or two.

Well I guess I got an answer from 212 man-although not phrased in a very professional way cpnsidering the rational reason he gives.

I don't disagree with the gist of his answer , personally although I read some Mil threads of interest to me I don't look at them enough to form an opinion about whether they are not read anything like as widely as some of the 'main' ones.

Shocking accident. All best wishes to those affected. I really hope the poor chaps who were hurt, will be on the road to recovery very soon.


God bless.

Besides this being a military plane, i would humble ask...is this also equipped with a similar CVR & FDR like in the civil ones, or something similar?
A true sad tragedy...may all rest in peace and to those two other occupants may could recover fast. JF

I hope that the Spaniards have an equivalent to the George Medal, or possibly a George Cross.

It seems that one was earned.

Saw my first A400m only a few weeks ago. My youngest was very impressed by it.
My condolences to all affected by this. I hope those injured recover quickly and we'll.

Wycombe, pax britanica and SteveRosenburg,

Did you miss trumpet trousers' posts? A request from fellow PPRuNers for some dignity. So why not leave the speculation alone and drop the personal indignation? Leave it for another place and a another time.

There's a report of multiple engine failures attributed to one of the survivor of the crash.

A400M: Überlebender berichtet von Triebwerkschaden - SPIEGEL ONLINE

automatic translation to english:

https://translate.google.com/transla...-text=&act=url

re Trumpet Trousers request for dignity
 

Fully agree. No doubt seconded by the whole Airbus class of 1994 (A330)

Come again, Courtney? You would not see me speculating around the accident itself, or any other. Further indignation at your accusation at this point would not be appropriate either.

Wycombe, my unreserved apologies. I have looked back at the posts and have it completely wrong. Sorry, with deepest respect.

Courtney

The Spiegel reports that the flight programme in Toulouse will continued as planned, so I suppose Airbus already know the cause of the problem. Are the RAF aircraft still grounded?

Whilst respecting the sad loss of fellow professionals, Pprune IS the place to discuss thoughts, causes, whatever provided it is within the bounds of decency. That is the beauty of Pprune and if anyone thinks otherwise - "Where have you been for the last 20yrs on Pprune".:ugh:

Causes / assumptions: bring it on.............................................

Hey, this is aviation - sh*t happens :mad:

It can't be wrong to share some technical news and informed thoughts. However we should better just avoid the usual blame game and respect the privacy of those involved.

I agree, Less Hair. I think it was the speculation and blame stuff he's asked us to lay off. News is good, I hope.