Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) says its Airlander 10 airship sustained “substantial damage” on November 18 when it broke free from moorings and crashed, with a likely insurance claim for as much as GBP32 million.

In a statement, HAV said: “While the damage to the aircraft will no doubt impact on our (deployment) timescales and plans, our successes to date make us confident Airlander will provide the capabilities and opportunities that will address the US$45 billion market that has been independently assessed.”