New A400M Crashes Near Factory (Updated)

Four of six people aboard an Airbus A400M military transport were killed with the aircraft crashed in a field in Seville, Spain, Saturday. The new four-engine turboprops are assembled in Seville and the aircraft was on a test flight when it hit an electrical tower while attempting an emergency landing. The nature of the emergency wasn't immediately released but Airbus announced on Sunday that it was resuming factory test flights. The accident occurred about a mile from San Pablo Airport in Seville. All of those on board were believed to be Airbus employees at the Seville plant. Four died on impact and the other two have serious injuries.

The aircraft in question was to be delivered to Turkey, one of seven countries involved in the $22 billion program. The U.K. has grounded its A400Ms pending word on the cause of the crash. Weather doesn't appear to be a factor. The aircraft, which is designed for rough-field military and humanitarian use, fills a gap between the Lockheed Martin C-130 and Boeing's C-17. The aircraft went into service in 2013, three years behind schedule. The $22 billion development program is Europe's biggest defense project.