Emirates is preparing accelerated safety checks on 15 of its Airbus A380 aircraft after cracks were found in a critical structural component during maintenance work. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, responded with an emergency directive requiring special inspections on certain aircraft of the type.
According to Airbus, the cracks were discovered in a central wing support beam, a key part of the aircraft’s structure. That component carries much of the load on the wings during takeoff, flight, and landing, so any defect requires a detailed inspection and risk assessment.
The inspection order was issued after routine maintenance checks identified flaws that could affect the wing’s structural strength. Airbus said the aircraft covered by the directive came from similar production batches, which is why focused inspections were ordered across all relevant planes.
In total, 16 A380s worldwide were placed on the immediate inspection list, 15 operated by Emirates and one by Qantas. Five Emirates jets were classified as urgent and must be checked in the coming days. Emirates said all inspections will follow regulator and manufacturer requirements, and any aircraft needing repair will be fixed before returning to service. The airline added that it is in constant contact with Airbus and oversight authorities to minimize disruption to its flight schedule.
