Flight GF072 accident in Bahrain
Toulouse, 23 August 2000
Airbus Industrie regrets to confirm that an A320 operated by Gulf Air was involved in an accident around 16.30 GMT while approaching Bahrain. The aircraft was operating a scheduled service, flight GF072, from Cairo, Egypt to Bahrain. Unconfirmed reports state that there were 143 passengers and crew on board. At this stage, the number of casualties is not known.
The aircraft involved in the accident, with registration A40-EK, was MSN 481, which was delivered to Gulf Air from the production line in September 1994. The aircraft had accumulated approximately 17,177 flight hours in some 13,848 flights. It was powered by CFM56-5 engines of CFM International. At this time, no further factual information is available.
In line with international convention, Airbus Industrie will provide full technical assistance to the investigation authorities, who will be responsible for the investigation into the accident. A team of specialists from Airbus Industrie is being dispatched to Bahrain.
The A320 is a twin-engined, short-to-medium range aircraft designed to carry typically 150 passengers. The first A320 entered service in April 1988. At the end of July 2000, 840 A320 were in service with 82 operators. At the end of March 2000, the fleet had accumulated over 10.5 million flight hours in over 6.1 million departures.
Airbus Industrie will make further factual information available once the details have been confirmed. However, the investigation remains the responsibility of the relevant authorities, and it would be inappropriate for Airbus Industrie to enter into any form of speculation into the cause of the accident.
The concerns and sympathy of Airbus Industrie employees go to the families and friends and loved ones affected by the accident of GF072.
For further information, please contact:
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE - PRESS DEPARTMENT
Tel.: (33)05.61.93.33.87 or 05.61.93.34.31
