Airbus A380 test flight delayed after accident
{{date|September 1, 2007}}
[[Image:Airbus.a380.f-wwdd.arp.jpg|thumb|The Airbus A380 Superjumbo.]]
A test flight of the new [[w:Airbus|Airbus]] [[w:A380|A380]] superjumbo, the largest passenger jet in the world, was delayed today after a superficial accident at [[w:Suvarnabhumi Airport|Suvarnabhumi Airport]], which serves [[w:Bangkok|Bangkok]], [[Thailand]].

The minor accident occurred during push back, as the aircraft was leaving a parking space before it was due to fly to [[w:Chiang Mai International Airport|Chiang Mai International Airport]]. As the jet was being pushed back by a [[w:Thai Airways International|Thai Airways International]] tug operator, the left winglet struck the side of the hangar, and was crumpled against it.

The [[w:winglet|winglets]], designed to improve fuel efficiency, are non-vital parts. After an inspection, Airbus decided to remove both winglets and continue the flight without them. The plane left four hours after its scheduled 9:45 a.m. local time departure, carrying 150 passengers.

The flight was intended to counteract criticisms that the massive airliner, which has a 79-metre wingspan, is too big (and thus too complex for ground crews) to be practically operated at most airports. It also demonstrates continuing problems at Suvarnabhumi airport, which has suffered various incidents since it opened last September, the most severe of which being the discovery of large cracks in airport taxiways shortly after opening.

Airbus has said they will continue with their tour of [[Asia]] demonstrating the plane.
{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/news/article_1350492.php/Accident_delays_Airbus_A380_test_flight_to_Chiang_Mai
|title=Accident delays Airbus A380 test flight to Chiang Mai
|author=
|pub= Monsters and Critics.com
|date=September 1, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=axCBuvBmW9es&refer=asia
|title=Airbus A380 Delayed After Minor Bump at Thai Airport (Update1)
|author=Shanthy Nambiar and Suttinee Yuvejwattana
|pub=Bloomberg
|date=September 1, 2007}}

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{{archived}}

[[Category:Airbus]]
[[Category:Aviation]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:Thailand]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Airbus A380]]

[[es:Accidente retrasa un vuelo de prueba del Airbus A380]] [[Category:Iain Macdonald (Wikinewsie)]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents]]
The Airbus A380 Superjumbo.
A test flight of the new Airbus A380 superjumbo, the largest passenger jet in the world, was delayed today after a superficial accident at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which serves Bangkok, Thailand.

The minor accident occurred during push back, as the aircraft was leaving a parking space before it was due to fly to Chiang Mai International Airport. As the jet was being pushed back by a Thai Airways International tug operator, the left winglet struck the side of the hangar, and was crumpled against it.

The winglets, designed to improve fuel efficiency, are non-vital parts. After an inspection, Airbus decided to remove both winglets and continue the flight without them. The plane left four hours after its scheduled 9:45 a.m. local time departure, carrying 150 passengers.

The flight was intended to counteract criticisms that the massive airliner, which has a 79-metre wingspan, is too big (and thus too complex for ground crews) to be practically operated at most airports. It also demonstrates continuing problems at Suvarnabhumi airport, which has suffered various incidents since it opened last September, the most severe of which being the discovery of large cracks in airport taxiways shortly after opening.

Airbus has said they will continue with their tour of Asia demonstrating the plane.


es:Accidente retrasa un vuelo de prueba del Airbus A380
Airbus Aviation Transport Disasters and accidents Thailand Asia Airbus A380 Iain Macdonald (Wikinewsie) Aviation accidents and incidents