Airbus A380 superjumbo grounded at air show

(Reuters)

Airbus's star jet has been grounded after clipping a wing on a taxiway structure, the latest in an embarrassing string of incidents for the European plane-maker at the aviation industry's premier showcase.

The A380 superjumbo suffered damage to its wing tip yesterday after the low-speed collision with a building at the Le Bourget airport, where the air show is taking place.

The aircraft had been scheduled to make demonstration flights during the show but these have now been cancelled, Eads spokesman Alexander Reinhardt said.

The Airbus A400M military transport plane also had to cancel a demonstration flight because of what the manufacturer described as a minor gearbox problem, although the aircraft will still make a flyover during President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to the show today, Mr Reinhardt said.