16 Airbus A380 aircraft have been ordered by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency ( EASA) for emergency inspections following cracks being found in a structural component on the double-decker. These inspections will look at the spar components in the wings of these super-jumbo airplanes.

The airlines affected under the directive include Emirates (with 15 planes affected) and Qantas (one aircraft). Five Emirates aircraft specifically have been ordered to undertake these inspections before their next scheduled flight. Focusing on the mid-wing spar, these structural elements help distribute stress that is generated throughout the flight.

16 Airbus A380 Affected From The Middle East And Australia

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So far, EASA has not ordered the entire global A380 fleet to be grounded due to limited indications of a widespread safety risk across all aircraft. It is rare for the European agency to issue an emergency directive, and these are usually reserved ultimately for issues that would be an immediate safety risk that could affect the airworthiness of airplanes if left unchecked.

Thus far, the five Emirates planes that were immediately requested to be pulled from service for inspection have been grounded from flying, while the remaining 11 aircraft (including the one from Qantas) are required to inspect these parts within the next 25 flight cycles.

This is not the first time that the A380 has facted wing related problems, after EASA in 2012 ordered inspections of the double-decker after cracks had been located in the brackets linking the wing skin to the plane’s internal ribs. This inspection itself affected the global A380 fleet and was a costly repair undertaking. The directive states:

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

Supply Chain Pressures Are Mounting At Airbus

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Dubai-based Emirates is the most affected by the current mandate, being the world’s largest operator of the super-uumbo, operating more than 100 of the type. The plane type first entered service in 2007 and has quickly become synonymous with Emirates and its global network. While the aircraft assembly line has since closed, it remains a flagship aircraft on many of the world’s busiest long-haul routes.

In the midst of ongoing supply chain problems, European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has struggled to increase production of other plane types, particularly due to the shortage of Pratt & Whitney engines. These have seen aircraft parked at Airbus facilities in both France and Germany as they await engines before the planes can be delivered.

Additionally, regulatory pressure continues to mount in Europe, with EASA tightening the maintenance requirements relating to the A330, and further concern for the A320 relating to flight control computers and intense solar radiation. Guillaume Faury, Airbus chief executive, has complained about the increased regulation, claiming that “Europe has become too heavy, too slow, too complicated”, and as reported by EuroNews, argues that regulation, paired with high energy prices and administrative costs, has undermined the continent’s competitiveness.

A Deep Dive Into The Qantas A380 Affected

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For Australian flag carrier Qantas, its single A380 that is affected by the directive last shows that it flew from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to the German city of Dresden on March 8 for heavy maintenance, and thus would not affect the airline’s wider network operations. The table below details some more of the airplane’s characteristics, according to data from ch-aviation:

The plane is configured with four classes of service, with the capacity to carry a total of 485 passengers (14 first, 70 business, 60 premium, and 341 in economy). VH-OQI first entered the Qantas fleet in 2011, and is nicknamed after David Warren, an Australian scientist, who is best known for inventing and developing the flight data recorder.

EASA identified the specific affected aircraft via serial numbers and determined what detailed inspections were required to meet compliance deadlines before the aircraft are permitted to return to service, or within a cycle window.