The German Airbus A400M Atlas medium-range military transport aircraft was grounded in Lithuania due to engine problems.

That was reported by www.tagesschau.de.

According to Reuters, Feb 7 German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday she had been forced to take a replacement flight back from Lithuania after her brand new A400M military transport plane was grounded due to engine problems.

One German military official said the A400M in question was the first tactical airlifter, equipped with defensive equipment.

The A400M can airlift in its large cargo hold most of the critical armed forces equipment which do not fit anymore in previous generation tactical airlifters such as an heavy helicopter or an heavy infantry fighting vehicle or an heavy humanitarian excavator.