Airbus to inspect 16 A380 planes after cracks found on wings

Airbus will inspect 16 of its A380 aircraft after cracks were discovered in a critical wing component. Five of these inspections are immediate. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandated these urgent examinations, requiring airlines to check the wing-spar structure on affected jets. These cracks were found during routine maintenance on A380s operated by Emirates and Qantas. The affected component is a structural beam that supports significant aerodynamic load during flight.

Airbus is grounding 16 Airbus A380 aircraft, 15 operated by Emirates and one by Qantas, for urgent inspections due to cracks found in a structural wing beam. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ordered these inspections after routine checks revealed the cracks, which could compromise wing integrity. Five Emirates aircraft require immediate inspection, with the remaining 11 to be examined before their thirteenth flight. Airbus will assess the need for repairs with EASA. This follows previous wing-related issues with the A380 model.