Spain crash: Hishamuddin confirms suspension of military airbus

KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein today confirmed that Malaysia has temporarily halted the operations of its military Airbus A400M fleet following a crash involving the transport carrier during a test flight in Seville, Spain last Saturday.

"Yes, (we) grounded ours till we know more," Hishammuddin said in his Twitter reply to a Bernama reporter, here today.

According to the Reuters news agency, an A400M military transport plane crashed outside Seville during the weekend, killing four members of the test crew and seriously injuring two others.

The incident prompted Malaysia, Germany, Britain and Turkey to ground their fleets of the new troop and cargo carrier.

Based on local media reports, Malaysia has ordered four A400Ms, and has received delivery of the first aircraft on March 9, after they were purchased in 2005.

Malaysia is expected to receive two more of the aircraft by the end of this year and the last one next year. – Bernama