Five Airbus A380 aircraft are undergoing further inspections after checks found possible cracks in part of their wing structure.
How it started
In December 2025, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an airworthiness directive requiring inspections of a specific part of the A380’s wing structure on aircraft that had reached a certain number of flight cycles. The aim was to detect any cracking early, long before it could become a safety problem.
What was found
The inspections found indications of possible cracks in the wing structure of five aircraft. The findings have not yet been confirmed as definite damage, but they were enough for further examination.
Which airlines
Airbus has not named the operators, but according to French media the five aircraft belong to Emirates, by far the largest A380 operator. Ten more Emirates aircraft and one Qantas A380 are reportedly due for similar checks.
What happens next
Airbus and EASA are assessing whether the aircraft need repairs. The process includes:
- detailed visual and ultrasonic inspections;
- engineering analysis of whether any cracks affect structural safety;
- reinforcement or replacement of parts where needed.
The affected aircraft will remain out of service until a decision is made.
Should passengers worry?
No. Airworthiness directives and inspections like these are a routine part of aviation safety, designed precisely to find problems before they affect flights. The A380 has had wing-related inspection programmes before, notably in the early 2010s, when cracks were found in wing rib brackets and the aircraft were repaired and returned to service.
The A380 today
Production of the A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, ended in 2021, but airlines such as Emirates plan to keep flying it for years to come. Keeping an ageing fleet in good condition means more frequent and detailed inspections as the aircraft accumulate flights.
