Airbus said on Thursday that a British corruption probe had now been extended to France.

On August 7, Britain's Serious Fraud Office said it had opened a criminal probe into alleged fraud, bribery and corruption "concerning third-party consultants."

"Airbus has now been informed that the French authorities... had also opened a preliminary investigation into the same subject and that the two authorities will act in coordination," Airbus said in a statement, adding: "Airbus will cooperate fully with both authorities."