Airlines wait for Airbus directive after crash

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Several airlines using Airbus A330-200 planes, the model that crashed in the Atlantic last week, said on Monday they would wait for any directive from manufacturer Airbus before making any equipment changes.

The chief executive of Gulf Air, Bjorn Naf, told Reuters he was seeking a meeting with Airbus during an annual meeting of airlines body IATA in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur to get an update on the latest findings on the crash and its causes.

"If there's an official recommendation, of course we will (act), we do not compromise on safety," Naf said in an interview.

Airbus had detected faulty speed readings on its A330 jets ahead of last week's crash of an Air France airliner, and had advised clients to replace a part, investigators said on Saturday. Airbus said the advice was a product enhancement and not a mandatory safety directive.

"If Airbus puts out a directive we will respond," said Akbar al-Baker, chief executive of Qatar Airways, which has 16 A330-200s.

Giovanni Bisignani, director general and chief executive of IATA, said in a speech to airline leaders in Kuala Lumpur: "Last week's tragedy over the South Atlantic reminded us all that safety is a constant challenge."

Air France Flight 447 crashed en route to Paris from Rio de Janeiro, killing all 228 people on board in an incident experts are still trying to understand as French and Brazilian teams scour deep Atlantic waters for its black box voice and data recorders.

Brazil's Air Force posted a photo on its website of divers grappling with large floating object that was painted with blue, red and white stripes typical of Air France planes.

Officials did not comment on what it was. But a video posted on the Air Force website apparently of the same object was titled "Vertical Stabilizer Found."