Paris, France (AHN) – Twenty Airbus A380s will have to undergo checks for cracks in their wings, the safety regulator has said.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said that 20 Airbus A380 planes would undergo a “visual inspection” for cracks.
That represents a third of the current fleet. The first concern is to inspect planes that have carried out more than 1,800 flights. Authorities will inspect planes that have flown from 1,300 to 1,800 flights within six weeks.
Inspections were prompted by the discovery of cracks on some A380 wings. Routine testing found cracks on a limited number of non-critical brackets inside the wings of some A380s. However, company officials say the cracks do not pose a safety hazard.
The agency said it had determined that the cracks might develop over a period after the planes were in service.
Moreover, if the cracks are not detected and corrected it could affect the structural integrity of the planes.
The problems could affect planes operated by Air France, Singapore Airlines and Emirates.
This is the second time cracks were found on A380 wings. The first time was during repairs to a Qantas A380 following an engine blowout in November 2010.
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