Key facts
- EASA has ordered emergency inspections of 16 Airbus A380 aircraft due to wing cracks.
- The cracks were found in a structural component known as the wing mid-spar.
- Fifteen of the affected A380s are operated by Emirates, and one by Qantas.
- Five Emirates aircraft require inspection before their next flight.
- Airbus is already facing supply chain issues and rising costs.
Airbus is facing renewed scrutiny as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has ordered emergency inspections of 16 of its A380 superjumbo aircraft due to cracks discovered in a key wing component. The affected aircraft include 15 operated by Dubai-based Emirates and one by Australia's Qantas.
Five of the Emirates aircraft have been specifically instructed to undergo inspections before their next flight. The focus of these checks is the wing mid-spar, a critical structural element within the wing box responsible for distributing flight stresses. While EASA has not grounded the entire A380 fleet and has indicated no immediate safety risk across all aircraft, such emergency directives are uncommon and typically signal potential airworthiness concerns if unaddressed.
The A380, which entered service in 2007, remains a significant aircraft for long-haul routes despite Airbus ceasing production in 2021. This situation adds to Airbus's existing challenges, including persistent supply chain disruptions, particularly a shortage of engines from Pratt & Whitney, which has led to completed aircraft being idled awaiting delivery. The company is also navigating increased regulatory oversight in Europe, with EASA having already tightened maintenance requirements for certain A330 models and overseeing updates for the A320 family following concerns about flight control computers.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has previously expressed frustration with European regulatory and administrative burdens, suggesting they hinder the continent's competitiveness.