Rampaging raccoons add to Airbus factory headaches

A family of raccoons recently broke into an Airbus factory in Canada, adding an unusual headache to the planemaker’s more familiar troubles with parts shortages and supply chain snags.

A family of raccoons recently broke into an Airbus factory in Canada, adding an unusual headache to the planemaker’s more familiar troubles with parts shortages and supply chain snags. Five of the baby mammals were found inside the plant near Montreal, which produces A220 airliners, sources told Reuters, after their mother was spotted climbing the landing gear of a jet being produced for a European airline. “A guy came face to face with the raccoon, after having entered the plane,” a factory worker said. A second source said damage included urine and chewed wires. Workers on the overstretched assembly line had to be pulled off normal jobs to undertake the time-consuming task of quarantining the first jet and inspecting for damage from the furry intruders, which are known for foraging in trash cans for food. Airbus confirmed the discovery of a family of raccoons on one plane but declined to say whether they had further delayed production or caused any damage.