EASA Orders Checks on 16 Airbus A380s After Wing-Spar Cracks Emerge
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 23
EASA Orders Checks on 16 Airbus A380s After Wing-Spar Cracks Emerge
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 23
Summary
Five Emirates A380s must be inspected immediately after cracks were found in a wing-spar beam during maintenance, with 11 more jets due for checks before their next 13 flights.
EASA said the cracks could weaken wing structural integrity and traced the issue to aircraft sharing the same production history under a December 2025 inspection directive.
Fifteen of the 16 affected aircraft are operated by Emirates and one by Qantas, underscoring the exposure of the world's largest A380 operator, which flies more than half of active superjumbos.
Airbus said it will discuss with EASA whether repairs are needed, reviving scrutiny of the A380's wing design after a 2012 fleetwide crack problem triggered costly fixes and later design changes.