Lead
Airbus has announced it will inspect 16 A380 aircraft, five of them immediately, after cracks were found in a key wing component on planes operated by Emirates and Qantas. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ordered urgent inspections requiring airlines to examine the wing-spar structure on the affected jets, following the discovery of cracks during routine maintenance checks.
The cracks appeared in a structural beam that runs along the wing and carries much of the aerodynamic load during flight. According to Airbus, the cracks could reduce the structural integrity of the wing.
Coverage Comparison
The reports from ABC Australia, The Guardian, and the South China Morning Post all align on the core details: the number of aircraft to be inspected, the airlines involved, and the regulatory directive from EASA. All three sources identify 15 of the 16 aircraft as operated by Emirates and one by Qantas, and note that the five aircraft requiring immediate inspection are flown by Emirates, with inspections scheduled as early as Wednesday.
ABC Australia and The Guardian provide additional context, including details about the inspection process and past wing-related issues with the A380. The South China Morning Post focuses on the basic facts and the list of airlines using the A380, without direct quotes.
Key Claims
- Airbus will inspect 16 A380 planes, including one operated by Qantas, after cracks were found in a key wing component.
- The cracks appeared in a structural beam that runs along the wing and carries much of the aerodynamic load during flight.
- EASA ordered urgent inspections after inspectors found cracks during routine maintenance checks.
- Of the 16 planes to be inspected, 15 are operated by Emirates and one by Qantas.
- The five aircraft to be inspected immediately are flown by Emirates, and they were to undergo the process as soon as Wednesday.
- The cracks were discovered during inspections ordered by EASA in a directive issued in December 2025, according to Airbus.
- All A380s with the same production history have been identified, and Airbus will carry out immediate inspections on five aircraft.
- Airbus will discuss with EASA whether repairs are necessary, an Airbus spokesperson said.
- The remaining 11 aircraft can be inspected later, but before their thirteenth flight, which corresponds to 25 cycles (each cycle being a flight, takeoff, and landing).
- The A380 has faced wing-related problems before; in 2012, EASA ordered inspections after cracks were found in brackets linking the wing skin to internal ribs, leading to a costly repair programme that Airbus addressed through design changes on later planes.
- Airlines using the A380 include Emirates, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Korean Air, Etihad Airways, ANA, and Asiana Airlines.
- Emirates operates the largest A380 fleet in the world, flying more than half of all active superjumbos.