SEVILLE, Spain (AFP) - At least four people were killed when an Airbus A400M military plane crashed near Spain's southern Seville airport during a test flight, the first fatal incident involving the new transport craft.
Andalusia's regional prefect Antonio Sanz, who heads the local administration, said a burnt body had been found in the wreckage, raising the death toll to four.
A spokeswoman for the emergency services had earlier said there were "at least three dead and two seriously injured."
She said the authorities were still trying to establish how many people were on the plane when it went down in a non-residential area around a mile from the airport.
The airport was closed to traffic for about an hour after the crash. A thick plume of black smoke was seen billowing from the vicinity of the airport.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who received the news on a campaign visit to Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, spoke of "eight to 10 people on board."
The Prime Minister, who was due to visit the crash scene later on Saturday, sent his condolences to the victims, Spanish news agencies reported.
Aviation sources confirmed the plane was one of the new A400M troop and vehicle transporters from European aerospace group Airbus.
Airbus Defence and Space, the Airbus division responsible for military aircraft, said the plane was destined for Turkey, but did not immediately say how many people were aboard.
The group sent a team of experts to the crash scene.
If confirmed as an accident, it would be the first since the plane, which is assembled at a factory in Seville, went into service.
The first A400M was delivered to France in 2013, with subsequent planes having also been handed over to Turkey, Britain, Germany and Malaysia - the first non-European buyer.
BESET BY PROBLEMS
The A400M programme has been beset by problems since it was launched in 2003 at the request of European armies.
In addition to production and delivery delays, the programme ran 30 per cent - or €6.2 billion (S$9.2 billion) - over budget, sparking criticism from clients that at one point led Airbus to threaten to scrap the project.
When Germany took delivery of its first A400M last December - four years behind schedule - it complained of construction flaws.
Powered by four turbo-prop engines, the A400M is designed to transport troops and material, including armoured vehicles and helicopters, over great distances at high speeds.
Capable of transporting up to 37 tonnes over 3,300km, the A400M is still nimble enough to land on irregular terrain.
Airbus has high hopes for the aircraft, which is reaching the market just as its main US rivals are nearing the end of their life cycles - notably the C-130, which was designed 50 years ago.
A total of 174 A400M planes have been ordered, including 50 by France, 53 by Germany, 27 by Spain and 22 by Britain.
Though Saturday's crash was the first involving the aircraft, it is the second deadly accident involving military planes in Spain this year.
During Nato exercises on Jan 26, a Greek fighter jet experienced a technical failure during take-off and crashed into pilots and mechanics on the ground, killing 11 people and injuring 21.
Following Saturday's crash, Spanish political parties announced suspension of their campaigning for May 24 regional elections out of respect for the victims.
