Airbus crash/training flight
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Worldwide

Joined: Apr 2002
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From: FUBAR
Given the distance between the R/W @ PGF and the Med a bit worse than a landing gone wrong. Seems it was training ( I guess touch & go's for new guys ) Anyone's guess how an unstallable wunderbus could get dropped into the sea a few miles short of the R/W though.
...the thin end thereof

Joined: Jun 1998
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From: London
A320 said to ditch off French coast during training flight
Seven people were on board an Airbus A320 aircraft, belonging to Air New Zealand, which has ditched off the coast of France during a training flight.
A spokeswoman for the French coast guard Gendarmerie Maritime says the precise location of the twin-jet is unclear, but that the organisation believes it to be between 1km and 5km from the coast near Perpignan.
She adds that the jet belonged to Air New Zealand and is lying 20-30m below the surface of the water.
The condition of the seven occupants is unknown, she says. The aircraft came down at about 17:00.
Airbus has so far been unable to provide any further details.
Seven people were on board an Airbus A320 aircraft, belonging to Air New Zealand, which has ditched off the coast of France during a training flight.
A spokeswoman for the French coast guard Gendarmerie Maritime says the precise location of the twin-jet is unclear, but that the organisation believes it to be between 1km and 5km from the coast near Perpignan.
She adds that the jet belonged to Air New Zealand and is lying 20-30m below the surface of the water.
The condition of the seven occupants is unknown, she says. The aircraft came down at about 17:00.
Airbus has so far been unable to provide any further details.
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From: Dublin, Ireland
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: London
Here at the Beeb we've spoken to an XL Germany spokesman who has given us the following:
The plane was being returned to an aircraft leasing company. It was being given a maintenance check at Perpignan airport.
The aircraft appears to have crashed into the sea off the south east French coast during test flights following the maintenance work.
XL Germany says there were two flight crew from XL Germany and 3-5 engineers on board
Hope this helps.
The plane was being returned to an aircraft leasing company. It was being given a maintenance check at Perpignan airport.
The aircraft appears to have crashed into the sea off the south east French coast during test flights following the maintenance work.
XL Germany says there were two flight crew from XL Germany and 3-5 engineers on board
Hope this helps.

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 272
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From: UK
From wikipedia - Air New Zealand
Airbus A320-200
12 (1 Order)
152 (8/0/144)
Domestic, Select Tasman (except Perth) & Pacific
Operated by: Zeal320.
Currently undergoing cabin refit.
1 Aircraft currently with New Interior.
10 Aircraft are leased
Airbus A320-200
12 (1 Order)
152 (8/0/144)
Domestic, Select Tasman (except Perth) & Pacific
Operated by: Zeal320.
Currently undergoing cabin refit.
1 Aircraft currently with New Interior.
10 Aircraft are leased
"The INTRODUCER"

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From: London
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Barcelona
Reuters wire
(Reuters) - An Air New Zealand
Airbus A320 aircraft on a test flight crashed into the sea off
France's southwest coast on Thursday, killing at least one
person with a further six still missing, officials said.
"An aircraft crashed at around 5.00 p.m. (1600 GMT) off the
coast near Perpignan. It was an A320," said a spokesman for the
maritime prefecture, the regional authority that covers the area
in southwestern France.
The A320 is manufactured by Airbus, a unit of European
aerospace group EADS.
"Seven people were involved. We have recovered one dead
body," another spokesman for the Pyrenees-Orientales prefecture,
in southwestern France said.
The Pyrenees-Orientales prefecture said the plane was on a
"technical flight" and was being serviced by a company based in
Perpignan, a southwestern city on the Mediterranean coast.
Officials from the DGAC, the French civil aviation authority
were checking reports of the crash.
There was no immediate comment from Airbus, a unit of
European aerospace group EADS.
Airbus A320 aircraft on a test flight crashed into the sea off
France's southwest coast on Thursday, killing at least one
person with a further six still missing, officials said.
"An aircraft crashed at around 5.00 p.m. (1600 GMT) off the
coast near Perpignan. It was an A320," said a spokesman for the
maritime prefecture, the regional authority that covers the area
in southwestern France.
The A320 is manufactured by Airbus, a unit of European
aerospace group EADS.
"Seven people were involved. We have recovered one dead
body," another spokesman for the Pyrenees-Orientales prefecture,
in southwestern France said.
The Pyrenees-Orientales prefecture said the plane was on a
"technical flight" and was being serviced by a company based in
Perpignan, a southwestern city on the Mediterranean coast.
Officials from the DGAC, the French civil aviation authority
were checking reports of the crash.
There was no immediate comment from Airbus, a unit of
European aerospace group EADS.
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From: same planet as yours
19:20 update
Recent info (19:20 UTC+1) from regional newpaper stating that one body was recoverd and transported to Perpignan hospital, 6 persons missing. Also indicated that debris is spread over hundreds of metres around impact point. Sad.



