Wing Cracks in Airbus Aircrafts Discovered
According to reports, European safety authority EASA is preparing to order airlines to administer checks on nearly a third of all Airbus A380s in service after cracks in the aircrafts' wings were discovered.
The order for inspection will reportedly be given through an EASA directive. The directive is reported to focus on two different categories of the superjumbo aircraft, those that have completed 1,800 take-offs and landings and those that have completed 1,300-1,799 take-offs and landings. The inspections in the 1,800 category are reportedly required to begin within days while aircraft in the other category reportedly will be checked within six weeks.
Reuters has reported that no aircraft will be grounded pending the checks. There are a total of 68 of the 525-seat aircraft in service, according to media reports.
The A380 reportedly began service in December, 2007, with Singapore Airlines, followed by Emirates and Australia's Qantas. Other carriers reportedly include Air France, Korean Air, Lufthansa and China Southern.