Site of plane crash
Photo: AFP
Spain PM says military plane crashes, killing crew
Ten crew members were aboard Airbus A400M aircraft that crashed near southwestern Seville airport while undergoing flight trials.
A military transport plane crashed near southwestern Seville airport Saturday, killing its crew, Spain's prime minister said. It is unclear if any others were injured.
Mariano Rajoy said up to 10 crew members were aboard the brand new Airbus A400M aircraft that was undergoing flight trials at the airport.
Site of A400M crash (Photo: Reuters)
An industrial estate near where the Airbus came down in the suburb of Carmona had lost electrical power as a result of the crash, AENA said.
Airbus A400M (Photo: EPA)
Calls to the regional government of Andalucia went unanswered Saturday.
Photographs published on leading Spanish newspaper El Pais' website showed fire services extinguishing the fire at the smoking wreckage in a ploughed field.
Spanish state television TVE broadcast footage shot from a car driving past airport buildings showing a plume of black smoke rising into the sky. TVE said the pilots had communicated with the control tower, saying their plane was in difficulty.
The A400M is a large, propeller-driven transport aircraft that is being assembled in Seville. Some 194 examples have been ordered by eight countries - including Spain - seeking a replacement to its aging Hercules fleet.
