Following Airbus report on cracks in some A380 wings; Emirates Airline begins inspections.
On Tuesday, Airbus announced it will inspect 16 of its A380 aircraft, 15 of which are in Emirates' fleet, after cracks were observed in a key section of the wings of these aircraft.
Emirates Airline announced it will immediately begin inspecting some of its aircraft after cracks were identified on some Airbus A380 planes.
After cracks were observed in a critical section of the wing structure in the aircraft used by Emirates and Qantas Airways, Airbus announced on Tuesday that it will inspect 16 A380s, five of which will be examined urgently.
Of the 16 aircraft subject to inspection, 15 are operated by Emirates and one by Qantas.
The company confirmed in a statement released on Wednesday: "Emirates will carry out the necessary inspections in accordance with flight safety directives." It also added: "Inspections will begin within the next 48 hours, and any necessary repairs will be made before the aircraft return to service."
The company also stated that to minimize disruption to flight schedules, it will remain in close contact with Airbus and relevant authorities.
The cracks have occurred in a structural spar that runs along the wing and bears a significant portion of aerodynamic load during flight.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an immediate inspection order after identifying this defect during a routine maintenance check.
Emirates has one of the youngest fleets in the world, including Airbus A380, Airbus A350, and Boeing 777 aircraft. More than 200 of the company's A380s and B777s are undergoing complete refurbishment. In May, the first complete redesign of the two-class A380 aircraft was also completed.
The company was also named the best airline in the world at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2026 on Tuesday and received two other awards.
Source: Gulf Times