Aircraft

By Victoria Moores in London

Airbus has begun an investigation into a suspected security breach after three cables of a final assembly line Airbus A380 were found severed.

The damage was discovered during the day-to-night shift changeover last Thursday (8 June). Although police attended the scene, Airbus has not lodged an official complaint.

Airbus says: “Three cables were cut or severed in one section. It is being investigated and our surveillance is being checked out [for weak coverage]. This shows that we have very good checks and that things get picked up straight away.

“We don’t know the reason why it was done. At the moment it seems that it wasn’t an accident.”

Airbus is unable to identify which section of the A380 was affected and declines to give the exact identity of the aircraft, but adds that the damage “is not too great”.

The police were summoned and an internal investigation is underway but, despite suspicions of “vandalism”, Airbus has not filed charges.

“It is an internal investigation, not external. Airbus has not made an official complaint. It is just doing it internally at the moment. It is early days. We are looking at the surveillance [material] that we have.”

Although closed-circuit television cameras are fitted within the building, Airbus says it is not aware of any surveillance within the vicinity of the incident. He adds that the building is “fairly secure” as it is pass-protected and specific permissions are required to access the area.