MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The German Defense Ministry has cancelled the upcoming test flight of its Airbus A400M military aircraft after a similar cargo jet crashed in Spain on Saturday, the ministry's spokesman announced.
This decision was taken by German air force's inspector general Karl Muellner, the spokesman said as cited by local media. The plane has been grounded until Spain establishes the cause of the crash, they said. The German aircraft was to make its first test flight to Norway next Tuesday.
The Spanish Airbus transport aircraft came down Saturday near the southern city of Seville shortly after its takeoff. Local authorities told reporters the plane crashed during a test flight, killing at least four Airbus employees.
Germany initially ordered 73 cargo planes from the France-based aircraft maker, but later cut their number to 53. It now plans to keep only 40 jets, while the rest 13 will be resold.
