BANGKOK: -- A wingtip of a latest technology Airbus 380 aircraft currently being tested by Thai Airways International (THAI) Saturday morning hit a hangar entrance door at the Suvarnabhumi airport maintenance centre as the plane was about to take off for Chiang Mai, causing a delay.
No injuries were reported in the accident which took place at 9.45am local time (0245 GMT) when the wingtip of the A380 hit the door of the THAI maintenance hangar at the airport east of Bangkok in Samut Prakan.
Several prominent personalities were on the test flight. Among them were Royal Thai Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Chalit Phukphasuk and a number of journalists. The ill-fated plane was due to fly to Chiang Mai and return to Suvarnabhumi airport later Saturday before proceeding to Toulouse, France.
The test flight was offered by Airbus Industrie as part of its marketing campaign for A380 for countries which have ordered for a purchase.
THAI president Apinan Sumanaserani said the accident did not result from pilot error, but that it may have occurred from the size of the aircraft which was larger than the safety line marked for aircraft making a U-turn.
Mr. Apinan said the plane could fly again after repairs which were expected to take about an hour.
--TNA 2007-09-01
A380 hits airport building during test flight
BANGKOK: -- A tip of an Airbus A380's wing scraped a repair building of the Suvarnabhumi Airport during its test fly on Saturday morning.
Airbus let Thai Airways International (THAI) uses the world's largest passenger plane in the trial flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
The plane, which arrived in Thailand on Friday as part of an Asian tour to promote its sales, carried 150 VIP guests, businessmen and reporters on this special flight. It was scheduled to leave the airport at 9.45am.
Its tip hit the building when it was on taxiway, officials said.
There is no reports of injuries.
THAI president Apinan Sumanaseni said minor damage occurred at the jet's wing, and expected that it would take an hour to fix the damage. The flight would be resumed at 1pm.
The pilots was not blamed for the damage as Mr Apinan said the accident occurred because the jet is so large that it needs more space on the taxiway.
THAI ordered six A380 airbuses. They will be delivered in the next two years.
--Bangkok Post 2007-09-01
