EADS has asked European governments not to comment on a US congressional auditor’s recommendation that the US Air Force reopen a competition for refuelling tankers that the company originally won.

The US Government Accountability Office on Wednesday found flaws in the air force process used to select EADS and Northrop Grumman, its US partner, over Chicago-based Boeing. The issue has been highly charged on Capitol Hill since the air force earlier this year stunned experts by choosing EADS for the $35bn deal.