Airbus under lens in US over corruption charges

NEW DELHI: European aircraft maker Airbus, which is facing a probe in India on suspect payments to a ‘consultant’, is now facing an investigation by the US over allegations of corruption, according to a French newspaper report.

Airbus — which has been named in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry on a Delhi-based NGO that allegedly diverted funds received under ‘corporate social responsibility’, and is already facing bribery probes in France and the UK — could potentially face fines worth billions of dollars if found guilty of corruption, according to media reports. “It is a known fact that Airbus is the subject of a publicly-disclosed investigation and therefore is unable to comment in any form on the current proceedings,” an Airbus spokesperson told ET.

The company is active in India not only in the commercial sector but is betting big on defence manufacturing as well.


According to reports, US department of justice has opened investigations into allegations of corruption against Airbus that were carried out worldwide and has already contacted the company to provide details.