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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Airbus Glitches Probed on 2 New Flights

Cockpit sensors failed in same model as crashed Air France jet

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(Newser) – Federal investigators are probing two recent incidents in which speed and altitude sensors malfunctioned on Airbus 330s, USA Today reports. The failures, one on a Northwest Airlines flight and one on Brazil's TAM Airlines, are similar to those being investigated in the crash of an Air France A330 earlier this month.

The planes managed to land safely with no injuries in both incidents. The investigation into the crash of the Air France jet is focusing on air pressure sensors, known as Pitot tubes, that apparently failed shortly before the plane went down. Airbus advised airlines to replace the tubes last year because they could malfunction in bad weather, but many failed to do so until recently.

The NTSB is investigating malfunctions on a Northwest Airlines Airbus A330 flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo earlier this week.
The NTSB is investigating malfunctions on a Northwest Airlines Airbus A330 flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo earlier this week.   (©Hyougushi)
Problems with the air pressures sensors on Airbus 330s are the focus of NTSB investigations.
Problems with the air pressures sensors on Airbus 330s are the focus of NTSB investigations.   (©abdallahh)
A Northwest Airlines A330.
A Northwest Airlines A330.   (©Hyougushi)
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Newser001
Jun 26, 09 11:03 AM CDT
Airbus issued an advisory - Not a mandatory replacement directive; that's baffling. Reply
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