EASA requests visual inspections for A320 aircraft due to non-compliant fuselage panels identified by an Airbus supplier.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an order requiring operators of aircraft from the A320 family to conduct visual inspections and repair non-compliant panels on the fuselage. This measure comes after an Airbus supplier discovered a quality issue in production, which led to thickness deviations of the delivered panels. EASA warned that if these issues are not corrected, they could affect the structural integrity of the aircraft. The suspect panels were manufactured by Sofitec Aero SL, and Airbus is working with the supplier to implement a corrective action plan. Approximately 628 aircraft are affected, of which 170 are already in operation. Airbus, a global leader in aeronautics, continues to operate in Romania through its local divisions.