EADS executives are under inquiry

Arnaud Lagardere and other high-profile executives are being questioned by French market authorities investigating alleged insider dealing at European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co., the parent of plane maker Airbus, a spokesman for Lagardere said.

The probe focuses on the sale of millions of euros’ worth of shares by top EADS executives in March and April 2006, weeks before the company announced major delays to the super-jumbo A380 that sent the stock price tumbling 26% in one day. The shares have still not recovered.

Lagardere, co-chairman of EADS, will be questioned by the AMF market authority May 29. Deputy Chief Executive Jean-Paul Gut was questioned Tuesday, and former EADS co-Chairman Manfred Bischoff is to be questioned today as part of the probe, which AMF announced in June. Officials at the market regulator declined to comment on the investigation.