Sabena technics proximity. At Brussels Airport, Sabena technics employs a workforce of more than 400 person. Here, airframe maintenance is carried out on narrow and wide-body aircraft, as well as component repair and overhaul. The Brussels site benefits from specialized component workshops and a logistics center. It equally houses the heavy maintenance facility of X-air services. In July 2014, Brussels site recover his independence under the name of Sabena Aerospace. Sabena name having a huge Belgian ancrage (Sabena meaning "Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de Navigation Aérienne"). At Dinard-Pleurtuit-Saint-Malo airport, the facilities extend over a surface area of 35,000 m², with a workforce
Sabena Flight 503 communication was cut off. The aircraft had crashed somewhere in the mountains of Rieti, Italy North-East of Rome and was now missing. Sabena itself got notified about the missing aircraft that same night at 23:15 but would not make an official statement until the morning of the following day. The airplane had crashed somewhere in the mountains of Rieti, Italy North East of Rome which were known for being difficult to access and also lay in a nature reserve where wolves roamed. The Italians immediately started a search and rescue mission to locate the missing aircraft and rescue its occupants.