Cracks identified in critical wing-spar components have intensified scrutiny of the A380 fleet’s structural integrity.
Airbus announced on Tuesday that it will inspect 16 A380 aircraft, including five immediately, after cracks were discovered in a critical wing component on planes in airline service.
The inspections follow an urgent directive from the European aviation regulator, which instructed airlines to examine the wing-spar structure of affected aircraft after cracks were detected during routine maintenance checks.
The defects were found in a structural beam running along the wing that bears a significant portion of the aerodynamic forces generated during flight, raising concerns about the long-term structural integrity of the aircraft.
Airlines operating the A380 include Emirates, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Korean Air, Etihad Airways, All Nippon Airways (ANA), and Asiana Airlines.
Emirates operates the world’s largest A380 fleet, accounting for more than half of all active Airbus superjumbo aircraft currently in service. This makes the airline particularly significant to any fleet-wide inspection or maintenance program involving the A380.
Cracks that could potentially compromise the structural integrity of an aircraft’s wing were discovered during inspections mandated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) under a directive issued in December 2025, Airbus said.
The manufacturer has identified all A380 aircraft sharing the same production history and will immediately inspect five of the affected planes.
Airbus, headquartered in Toulouse, said it will work with EASA to determine whether any corrective repairs are required, according to a company spokesperson.
The remaining 11 aircraft may undergo inspections at a later stage, but they must be checked before completing an additional 25 flight cycles. A flight cycle consists of one takeoff, one flight, and one landing.
The A380 has encountered wing-related issues in the past. In 2012, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandated inspections across the fleet after cracks were discovered in brackets connecting the wing skin to internal support ribs.
The problem affected all A380 aircraft worldwide and resulted in an extensive and costly repair program. Airbus subsequently introduced design modifications on later-production aircraft to address the issue and prevent similar defects from occurring.
