• Airbus will inspect 16 A380 aircraft after cracks were found in wing components.
• The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has mandated urgent inspections.
• Fifteen aircraft are operated by Emirates and one by Qantas.
• Inspections will commence immediately on five Emirates aircraft.
• The A380 has faced similar structural issues in the past, prompting regulatory inspections.

Airbus announced that it will inspect 16 A380 aircraft following the discovery of cracks in a key wing component, affecting operations for airlines including Emirates and Qantas. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a directive mandating urgent inspections to assess the situation after these cracks were detected during routine maintenance checks. The specific cracks found are located in a critical structural beam that supports much of the aerodynamic load during flight, raising safety concerns regarding the integrity of the wings, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and India Times.

Of the 16 aircraft scheduled for inspection, 15 are operated by Emirates and one by Qantas. Five Emirates aircraft are set to undergo immediate inspections, which are expected to commence as early as Wednesday. The airline confirmed its readiness to start the inspection process promptly and expressed commitment to ensure that any necessary repairs would be completed before the planes return to service, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

Airbus noted that they will collaborate with EASA to determine whether repairs are necessary following the inspections. Notably, all A380 aircraft sharing the same production history have been identified for potential inspection. The remaining 11 aircraft can continue to operate temporarily, but they are required to undergo inspection before completing their next 13 flights, in compliance with EASA’s regulations. This situation highlights ongoing concerns about structural integrity issues related to the Airbus A380, as similar inspections were mandated by EASA in 2012 following other discovered cracks, which led to significant repairs and design changes, as reported by South China Morning Post and India Times.