Qantas incident hits Airbus sales drive

The dramatic mid-air loss of engine power by a Qantas A380 superjumbo was a severe blow to the image of European planemaker Airbus, just as it hopes to sell dozens of jets to China.

The dramatic mid-air loss of engine power by a Qantas A380 superjumbo was a severe blow to the image of European planemaker Airbus, just as it hopes to sell dozens of jets to China.

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Thursday's drama, could hardly have come at a worse time for the French-based firm.

Airbus and its parent company EADS had hoped the expected announcement of a major Chinese contract during President Hu Jintao's visit to Paris would put an end to a streak of bad publicity surrounding its planes.