Tanker boom breaks off

A large part of a refueling boom broke off from an Airbus tanker during an exercise Wednesday. Airbus said the cause of the accident off the coast of Portugal was not yet clear. Both the tanker, which was to be delivered to the Australian air force, and a Portuguese F-16 were damaged. The boom fell into the Atlantic Ocean. (Sources: New York Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, 01/20/11) Gulf Coast note: The U.S. Air Force is expected to pick Boeing or Airbus aircraft for its new tankers. If Airbus is chosen, EADS North America plans to assemble them in Mobile, Ala.