Emirates begins A380 inspections after wing cracks found

EASA issued an emergency airworthiness directive requiring inspections of 16 Airbus A380s after cracks were found in internal wing spars.euronews
Of the 16 affected jets, 15 are operated by Emirates and one by Qantas, with five requiring checks before their next flight.al-monitor
Emirates said Wednesday it will begin inspections within 48 hours, while Qantas said its affected plane is already in maintenance in Germany.khaleejtimes

EASA Orders Urgent Wing Crack Inspections on 16 Airbus A380s

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued an emergency airworthiness directive on June 22 requiring urgent inspections of 16 Airbus A380 superjumbo jets after cracks were discovered in a structural beam inside the aircraft’s wings, with the directive taking effect on Wednesday, June 24.facebook

Of the 16 affected aircraft, 15 are operated by Emirates and one by Qantas. Five Emirates jets must be inspected before their next flight, while the remaining 11 — including the Qantas aircraft — must undergo checks within 25 flight cycles.al-monitor

What Was Found

The cracks were identified in the wing mid-spar, a structural beam that runs along the wing and carries much of the aerodynamic load during flight. They were initially discovered during inspections ordered by EASA in a separate directive issued in December 2025, according to Airbus.al-monitor

“It has been determined that the cracks found on certain aeroplanes could reduce the structural integrity of the wing,” EASA stated in its directive. “To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus determined that an additional special detailed inspection has to be accomplished.”facebook

Technicians will use ultrasonic scanning and eddy-current testing to assess the damage, and any aircraft found with cracks must be repaired before returning to service.airtraveler

Airline Responses

Emirates confirmed on Wednesday it would comply with the directive. “Inspections will commence within the next 48 hours, and any work required will be carried out before releasing aircraft to service,” the airline said in a statement, adding it would remain in close contact with Airbus and relevant authorities to minimise disruption.khaleejtimes

The single Qantas aircraft affected — registered VH-OQI — is currently undergoing heavy maintenance in Dresden, Germany. “The aircraft was already in scheduled maintenance and we will comply with any additional requirements as a result of this airworthiness directive,” a Qantas spokesperson said, confirming no impact on current operations.travelweekly

Fleet-Wide Context

EASA has not grounded the entire A380 fleet. The directive covers specific aircraft identified by serial number, all sharing the same production history. Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority confirmed it has adopted the European directive for Australian-registered aircraft.euronews

An Airbus spokesperson said discussions with EASA will determine whether repairs are warranted on individual aircraft following the inspections.abc