An Airbus A320 operated by XL Airways Germany was performing a flight test over the Mediterranean Sea when it crashed near the French commune of Canet-en-Roussillon. Equipped specifically for passenger service, the aircraft was not carrying any passengers during the test. Earlier reports indicated that the flight was engaged in evaluations to ensure all systems were functioning correctly prior to its planned delivery. Tragically, all seven crew members on board lost their lives in the crash. The incident raised immediate alarm within the aviation community regarding aircraft testing protocols and safety measures in place during such operations.

The crash site was quickly secured by local authorities, and recovery operations were launched to locate the wreckage and examine the flight data recorders. Investigators from both France's Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) and German authorities were involved in the probe to determine the cause of the accident, focusing on mechanical failures, human error or environmental conditions. The information garnered from the crash investigation would eventually inform changes to safety regulations around flight testing.

In the aftermath, XL Airways Germany faced challenges regarding operational protocols as they worked to rebuild trust with both regulatory bodies and the public in terms of safety standards. As the aviation industry was still recovering from a series of incidents around this time, the attention the crash received put pressure on airlines and manufacturers alike to improve training and testing procedures. The event became a pivotal moment for discussions on pre-delivery flight testing in the airline industry, leading to more stringent guidelines.