Etihad Airways denies staff injured in Airbus accident
The Emirates' national air carrier has denied that any of its employees were among 10 people injured when an Airbus jet slammed into a wall during ground tests a day earlier.
By Agencies |
DUBAI: The Emirates' national air carrier denied on Friday any of its employees were among 10 people injured when an Airbus jet slammed into a wall during ground tests a day earlier.
An Airbus spokesman also corrected the company's statement late yesterday that seven employees of Etihad Airways were injured, saying they in fact worked for a firm contracted to test the plane.
Ten people were injured yesterday during engine tests of an Airbus 340-600 near the southwestern French city of Toulouse shortly before the jet was scheduled to be delivered to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad.
Airbus said nine people on board were injured in the accident, along with one person on the ground.
Airbus Chief Operating Officer Fabrice Bregier said late Thursday that seven Etihad employees were among the wounded. "It was normal for the client to be present on board the plane," Bregier said.
However, Etihad denied today that any of its employees were injured. "At the time of the incident, there were no members of Etihad staff on board of the Airbus plane, which was expected to be delivered to us next week," said Greg Moore, a spokesman for the Dubai-based public relations firm Four Communications, which represents Etihad.
Jacques Rocca, an Airbus spokesman, said Friday that the seven non-Airbus staff on board the plane during the accident were employees of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, a contractor working for Etihad. Calls to the company for comment went unanswered Friday, the weekend in the Gulf.
An Airbus spokesman also corrected the company's statement late yesterday that seven employees of Etihad Airways were injured, saying they in fact worked for a firm contracted to test the plane.
Ten people were injured yesterday during engine tests of an Airbus 340-600 near the southwestern French city of Toulouse shortly before the jet was scheduled to be delivered to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad.
Airbus said nine people on board were injured in the accident, along with one person on the ground.
Airbus Chief Operating Officer Fabrice Bregier said late Thursday that seven Etihad employees were among the wounded. "It was normal for the client to be present on board the plane," Bregier said.
However, Etihad denied today that any of its employees were injured. "At the time of the incident, there were no members of Etihad staff on board of the Airbus plane, which was expected to be delivered to us next week," said Greg Moore, a spokesman for the Dubai-based public relations firm Four Communications, which represents Etihad.
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Jacques Rocca, an Airbus spokesman, said Friday that the seven non-Airbus staff on board the plane during the accident were employees of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, a contractor working for Etihad. Calls to the company for comment went unanswered Friday, the weekend in the Gulf.
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