EASA orders urgent checks of 16 A380s for wing cracks

European aviation regulators have ordered urgent inspections for 16 Airbus A380 superjumbo jets after discovering cracks in a critical wing component. The directive, issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), mandates checks on 15 aircraft operated by Emirates and one by Qantas.

The issue involves cracks in the wing mid-spar, a structural beam that carries significant aerodynamic loads during flight. EASA stated the cracking could reduce the structural integrity of the wing, constituting a potential unsafe condition. The agency issued an emergency airworthiness directive on June 22, with the order taking effect on Wednesday, June 24.

Five Emirates aircraft must be inspected before their next flight, while the remaining 11 jets, including the Qantas plane, must undergo checks within 25 flight cycles. Any aircraft found with defects must be repaired before returning to service. The affected Qantas aircraft, registration VH-OQI, has been undergoing heavy maintenance in Dresden, Germany, since early March.

A Qantas spokesperson said the aircraft was already in scheduled maintenance and the airline would comply with all additional requirements, noting there is no...