Blast at US airparts maker may hit Boeing, Airbus production

Paris

A POWERFUL blast at a Zodiac Aerospace factory in Washington state made some portions of the building unsafe to enter, raising concerns that the assembly of Boeing and Airbus aircraft could be affected.

Boeing and Airbus said on Wednesday they were assessing the potential impact of the factory closure on their operations, since it supplies materials used in aircraft interiors.

The explosion that rocked Zodiac's Newport, Washington, plant was felt miles away, injured at least seven people and prompted the evacuation of surrounding homes and businesses for about four hours due to strong chemical odours, officials said. "There's no recommendation to enter the building," …