More than 240 Airbus jets in operation

The plane which crashed in New York is one of the most popular mid-size airliners flying today and has a good safety record.

The A300-600 is regarded as a reliable aircraft and is used by 27 airlines across the world.

The twin-engined plane, which took off from JFK airport bound for the Dominican Republic, crashed into a residential area during good weather with clear skies.

The aircraft usually seats 266 passengers in a standard two-class configuration.

The first A300-600 entered service in 1984 and by the end of last month there were 242 of the aircraft operated by airlines.

Eye-witnesses have been reported as saying that an engine was seen falling from the plane before the crash.

The plane would have been capable of flying with only one engine.

This latest incident brings to more than a dozen the number of crashes the Airbus has been involved in over the past 13 years.

But with an Airbus taking off or landing every 10 seconds, the plane is considered in the aviation industry to have a good safety record, with ‘‘take-off crashes’’ extremely rare.

The Airbus is made by the European consortium Airbus Industrie and the A300-600 is an early version.

American Airlines has 35 in service.

Previous Airbus disasters:

August 2000: Gulf Air A320 crashed in Gulf off Bahrain

January 2000: 169 killed when A310 crashed off Ivory Coast.

February 1998: 197 killed when A300 crashed in Taiwan.

September 1997: 234 killed when A300 crashed in Indonesia.

July 1994: Seven killed when A330 crashed in Toulouse, France, when crew were testing simulated engine failure.

April 1994: 259 killed when A300 crashed in Japan.

March 1994: 75 killed when A310 crashed in Siberia.

September 1992: 167 killed when A300 crashed in Kathmandu, Nepal.

July 1992: 113 killed when A310 crashed in Kathmandu.

January 1992: 87 killed when A320 crashed in Strasbourg.

February 1990: 90 killed when A320 crashed in Bangalore.

June 1988: eight killed when A320 crashed in Habersheim.

Wings for the A300 are manufactured at the Airbus factory in Broughton, on the Welsh/English border near Chester.

Airbus describes the A300 and the A310 family of aircraft as ‘‘regional profit machines.’’