Spain Finds Cockpit Recorders of Crashed Airbus A400M

Madrid: Spanish authorities on Sunday found the two cockpit recorders of an Airbus A400M military plane that crashed near Seville airport, killing four of the six people on board, the government said.

The recording devices could prove crucial in determining the cause of Saturday's crash, which led Britain, Germany and Turkey to ground their A400M planes as a precaution until more is known about why the aircraft went down during a test flight.

"Both recording devices were found at the crash scene this morning and they have been turned over to the examining magistrate who is responsible for the judicial enquiry," the public works ministry said in a statement.

The plane crashed in a field and burst into flames just north of Seville's airport after hitting a power line in an apparent attempt at an emergency landing.

Four people who were on board died while another two, a mechanic and an engineer, were sent to hospital where they are listed as being in serious but stable condition.

The crash is the first of the A400M military troop and vehicle transporter, which Airbus assembles at a plant in Seville.

Spain's Guardia Civil police have opened a probe into the accident while the Spanish government said it would form a joint commission involving the budget ministry and the defence ministry to investigate.

Airbus Defence and Space, the Airbus division responsible for military aircraft, sent a team of experts to the crash scene to help with the investigation.