Airbus Announces Inspection Programme for A380 Fleet Following Wing Spar Cracks
Airbus SE confirmed that it will support inspections on a subset of A380 aircraft after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive on Monday. The directive mandates inspections of sixteen A380 jets because cracks were discovered in the wing spars, which could compromise structural integrity.
The directive specifies that five of the aircraft must be inspected before their next flight, while the remaining eleven are required to undergo inspection within twenty‑five flight cycles. Flight‑tracking data from Flightradar24 indicates that fifteen of the affected aircraft are operated by Emirates and one is operated by Qantas Airways Ltd, based on the manufacturer serial numbers listed in the directive.
Airbus said it has identified a smaller group of aircraft with similar operating histories and will assist in conducting the required inspections on those jets. A company spokesperson added that, depending on the inspection outcomes, Airbus will assess with EASA whether repairs are necessary or whether the aircraft can be returned to commercial service.
The A380 remains the world’s largest passenger airliner, although Airbus ended production of the model in 2021 as demand waned since its introduction in 2007.