First Super Jumbo's Wingtip Touched An Airport Structure

Airbus said Sunday that it would not be flying the signature A380 Super Jumbo airliner that it brought to the Paris Air Show this week after the airplane's starboard wingtip touched an airport structure while taxiing. It did, however, find a replacement airplane to make the demonstration flights.

Reuters reports that Airbus said in a statement that the A380 had been pulled from the lineup of airplanes that would conduct flight displays at Le Bourget. The planemaker said its engineers were inspecting the aircraft, but that it would not be cleared to fly.

The move follows an announcement that the A400M would also not able to perform what were being described as "daring" maneuvers during the show due to a gearbox problem.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Airbus has "borrowed" the A380 recently delivered to Korean Airlines for the purpose of making demonstration flights during the show.

Two months ago, another A380 was involved in a collision on the ground at JFK airport in which it hit the vertical stabilizer of a regional jet on the ramp.

FMI: www.airbus.com