INDEPTH: PLANE FIRE AT PEARSON AIRPORT
The Airbus A-340
CBC News Online | Aug. 3, 2005
It took four years to get the European-built Airbus A-340 from concept to working jetliner. Its first flight was in 1991.
Most components for the Airbus A340 are produced in three countries: British Aerospace manufactures the wings; fuselage structures are manufactured by Daimler Chrysler Airbus in Germany and Aerospatiale in France and the fin comes from CASA in Spain. All parts are flown to Toulouse, France, for final assembly.
The Airbus can hold a maximum of 440 passengers. More than 300 of the planes are either in service or on order around the world. The aircraft is powered by four jet engines.
Its safety record is among the best in the airline industry.
The crash at Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Aug. 2, 2005 was the worst accident involving the Airbus.
Other incidents involving the Airbus include:
April 9, 2004:
Johannesburg International Airport. Emirates Airlines Flight 764 to Dubai had trouble taking off. The plane did not get off the ground until 150 metres past the end of the runway. The aircraft struck lighting, causing damage to the aircraft, but returned immediately and landed safely. There were 230 people on board. No serious injuries.
July 24, 2001:
Colombo-Bandaranayake International Airport (Sri Lanka). Tamil Tigers launch a pre-dawn raid on the airport and destroy two Sri Lankan Airlines Airbuses. The planes were empty at the time. Nineteen people died in the assault.
Jan. 27, 2001:
Bangkok International Airport. A lone hijacker tries to comandeer Gulf Air Flight 153 from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi. There are 216 people on board. The hijacker is overcome. There are no injuries.
Aug. 27, 1998:
John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York. Sabena Airlines Flight 542 from Brussels to New York. The maingear on the right side collapses after a normal touchdow. The aircraft slides off the runway. There are 265 people on board. There are no injuries but the aircraft suffers substantial damage.
May 20, 1998:
Johannesburg International Airport. Iberia Airlines airbus is damaged during towing to a hangar. There are no injuries.
Nov. 6, 1997:
Heathrow Airport. A Virgin Atlantic Airlines Airbus on a flight from Los Angeles to London suffers extensive damage as it attempts an emergency landing in London. The jet had a problem with the landing gear on its first approach to Heathrow Airport. The pilot attempted an emergency landing with the left main landing gear only partly extended. There were no major injuries among the 114 people on board.
Jan. 20, 1994:
Charles de Gaulle Airport. Fire breaks out aboard an Airbus as it is being removed from a maintenance hangar in Paris. It's believed that the hydraulic electric pump operating the aircraft cargo doors overheated, causing the fire. There were no injuries, but the aircraft was a write-off.
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