EASA orders additional wing inspections for 16 A380s

Fresh cracks for the superjumbo

Wing-crack check hit 16 A380s: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has directed operators of 16 Airbus A380s to carry out additional detailed inspections after cracks were identified in parts of the wing structure that could compromise its integrity. Fifteen of the aircraft are operated by Emirates — the world’s largest A380 operator, with more than 100 of the type in its fleet — while the remaining jet is flown by Qantas. The four-engine jet left production in 2021 after demand dried up, but Emirates, Qantas, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways have retained parts of their fleets — leaving operators to absorb the maintenance and compliance burden.