Airbus on The Spot

Did pilot error or a design flaw cause the new A320's crash?

The Airbus A320 had been delivered to Air France only two days earlier, and the airline was proud to welcome 130 passengers aboard its new plane last week for a scenic demonstration flight. During the 45-minute ride, the sophisticated craft was supposed to buzz the tarmac at a French air show and swoop past 15,771-ft. Mont Blanc. The twin-jet aircraft, renowned as the world's most electronically advanced commercial airliner and celebrated as a symbol of Europe's technological prowess, was packed with local dignitaries, sightseers and journalists. Also aboard: a handful of aviation buffs who paid up to $70 each for a...

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