This archive report was first published on 9 July 2019.
On July 5, 2019, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an airworthiness directive requiring airlines to inspect the wings of 25 of Airbus's oldest A380 super-jumbo jets.
The directive was issued after cracks were found in certain parts of the wing on in-service A380 aeroplanes, which could reduce the structural integrity of the wing if not detected and corrected.
According to the EASA, Airbus plans to issue a service bulletin providing inspection instructions to address the potential unsafe condition.
While the directive does not yet ground any aircraft, it advises ultrasonic testing on the 25 oldest wing sets, particularly those built more than 15 years ago.
This is not the first time the A380 has experienced wing-crack problems, with a similar issue in 2012 costing Airbus millions of euros in repair and service costs.
Despite this, Airbus maintains that airworthiness directives are standard in aviation and demonstrate the regulatory process working well, with safety being the top priority.
