here's the full official report..
quite surprised it hasn't been on "mainstream" news like
Straitstimes and CNN
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jRE5Jhfnjy2ycRlqZJM_sXuSVPkQ
New Airbus A380 Scrapes Wing in Bangkok
By AMBIKA AHUJA 18 hours ago
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) An Airbus A380, the world's largest
passenger jet, scraped the tip of a wing on a building at Bangkok's
international airport Saturday as it was preparing for a
demonstration flight, officials of the aircraft company and Thai
Airways said.
The plane, which had been taxiing with journalists and VIP guests
on board, suffered minor damage, delaying its planned flight to the
northern Thai city of Chiang Mai by just over three hours, they
said. There were no injuries.
After more than a one-year delay due to production problems, Airbus
is scheduled to deliver its first A380, which seats 555, to
Singapore Airlines in October. The plane that arrived in Bangkok
Friday from Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, is making a
demonstration tour of Asia. It also will visit Vietnam, Hong Kong,
and South Korea.
Officials said the accident at Suvarnabhumi Airport was related to
the unusually long wingspan of the plane, for which the hanger
whose door it hit had not been designed. "It was not due to
problems with traffic control or human error of the captain," said
Thai Airways President Apinan Sumanaseni.
He said that the left winglet of the plane had been damaged, but
that engineers would remove the winglets ahead of the postponed
flight.
"The device removed is useful but we can fly without it ... I don't
think it will affect the operation of the aircraft at all," said
Terry Lutz, the plane's captain and head test pilot for
Airbus.
A winglet tips up and back from the end of a wing, improving
aerodynamic efficiency.
In press release last month, Airbus said its demonstration tours
are meant to help prepare the A380 "for a smooth entry into
service."
"Operating under typical airline conditions, (the) aircraft will
undergo airport compatibility checks, ground handling and
maintenance procedures to confirm its readiness to enter service,"
it said.
By mid-August, the A380 already had visited more than 45 airports
worldwide, and more than 70 airports will be ready for the plane by
2011, it said.
"Total orders and commitments for the A380 are 173 by 14
customers," it said, adding that delivery schedules for Singapore
Airlines, Emirates Airlines and Qantas are on track.
An Airbus representative said that Saturday's incident would not
affect the profile of the plane in Asia.
"This kind of incident happens at every airport around the world.
It is just a minor incident," said Edouard Ullmo, Airbus sales
executive vice president for Asia-Pacific and Africa.
[/quote]
