Airbus inspects 16 A380 aircraft after discovering cracks in the wings

Airbus announced on Tuesday that it will conduct inspections on 16 A380 aircraft, of which five will be checked immediately, after cracks were discovered in a critical wing component.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has requested these urgent inspections, considering that the cracks were identified in the structural ribs of the wing, which bear most of the aerodynamic load during flight.

Of the 16 affected aircraft, 15 are operated by Emirates and one by Qantas. Immediate inspections will take place on Wednesday for the Emirates aircraft. Among the companies using the A380 are Emirates, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and Lufthansa. EASA issued a directive in December 2025, requiring checks to prevent potential structural integrity issues with the wing.