Airbus Crashes Due To Stupidity 

On November 15, 2007, a spanking $200 million brand-new Airbus 340-600 underwent ground engine testing at the Airbus test pen in Toulouse, France, as a standard procedure prior to its turnover to a buyer. 

The new Airbus aircraft was for delivery to Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies [ADAT], a service provider of Etihad, had 7 employees on board the plane, together with 2 from Airbus, during the test.

This was contrary to an email which has been circulating in the internet which asserts that only the ADAT crew conducted the test. In fact, an Airbus engineer was at the right hand seat where the control inputs emanate. An ADAT engineer was at the left seat.

My first reaction to the email when I received it was one of disbelief. How could the ADAT crew be left on their own to conduct the test without Airbus engineers on board?

The test was all over in just 13 seconds. 

The result? It was one of the most expensive [if not the most] engine ground tests ever! The photos here will bear this out. The aircraft was a total wreck. Four of the test crew were injured.

And the cause of the crash? Human error in manipulating the plane's braking mechanism. Who's at fault? We can just surmise.

Amazing how this incident proves that modern high technology is no match to plain stupidity!