I can't recall specifics but there have been more than two such incidents with airbuses.
And the new 380 also has a plastic vertical stabilizer.
Yes
And the new 380 also has a plastic vertical stabilizer.
Using composites it not so much the problem (the military has been flying aircraft made with composites for years) as is proper maintenance. The problem is they require very different maintenance from the normal aluminum skin of aircraft. If maintenance and inspections are not done properly, then disaster can be the result.
As does the new 7E7/787 Boeing Dreamliner. I believe the newer versions of the 737, as well as the 777 use significant composite content in aero surfaces.
Wouldn't your suspicion that something is wrong with composite aero surfaces support the findings of the 587 investigation? The co-pilot overreacted to an upset and snapped the vertical stabilizer. You can snap the aluminum tail off of an airliner just as easily by exceeding design limits.
Yup, that's the one. Do a search for "Another Airbus Rudder" in News, and it should pull up the thread with the comparison pics.