Behold a brand spanking new Airbus 340-600 which, until recently, was sitting in a hangar in Toulouse, France without an hour on the clock. (There was a photo of the exterior of the plane but blogger won't let me publish it).
Sexy, yes?
I would say that's what the Arab flight crew of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) thought when they went to conduct pre-delivery tests on the ground, before its delivery to Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. First up, they taxied the A340-600 to the run-up area.Then they took all four engines to takeoff power with a virtually empty aircraft. Unfortunately, it appears these fellas hadn't read run-up manuals and they had no clue just how light an empty A340-600 really was.
There is an actual blow by blow account of what happens next, but I'll cut to the chase.
They kind of totalled it. 
Oh yeah.
I think the technical term for this is 'a bad day at the office.'
Apparently the extent of injuries to the crew is unknown due to the news blackout in the major media in France and elsewhere as coverage of the story was deemed insulting to Muslim Arabs.But then, I could always be victim to a great Internet myth.
And if it isn't, I reckon the crew the have just created a fantastic yarn to tell their grandchildren, if they're still around to tell it.
Anyone else heard of this story, or have I just been royally had?
