RPT-UPDATE 1-Backed by Boeing, Airbus urges patience on crash

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By Tim Hepher

PARIS, June 14 (Reuters) - Planemaker Airbus appealed for patience in speculating on the cause of the Atlantic plane disaster as Boeing (BA.N) came to the defence of its European rival's A330 passenger jet.

An Air France (AIRF.PA) A330 jet crashed in the Atlantic en route from Brazil to Paris on June 1, killing all 228 people on board the Airbus in the worst aviation disaster in eight years.

"It is safe to say that the aviation community is still under some shock," Airbus (EAD.PA) Chief Executive Tom Enders told journalists.

"And it certainly doesn't provide consolation to the families that if we look at the statistics of flying compared with 30 years ago, the statistics show that the A330 is one of the safest aircraft that has ever gone into service."

Enders was speaking on Saturday in a briefing ahead of the June 15-21 Paris Airshow along with the head of Airbus parent EADS. Contents of the briefing were embargoed for Sunday.

The crash has cast a pall over the world's largest aviation event, adding to economic pressures which have forced airlines to cancel or defer plane orders and travel fears over H1N1 flu.

EADS Chief Executive Louis Gallois appealed for media calm over the cause of the crash.