Why Airbus is grounding multiple A380 aircraft

Why Airbus is grounding multiple A380 aircraft

Airbus has announced plans to inspect 16 of its A380 aircraft, including five on an urgent basis.

The decision comes after cracks were discovered in a critical wing component on planes operated by Emirates and Qantas airlines.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has mandated immediate inspections of the affected jets' wing-spar structures.

Cracks discovered in structural beam

The cracks were discovered in a structural beam that runs along the wing and bears much of the aerodynamic load during flight.

Of the 16 planes to be inspected, 15 are operated by Emirates and one by Qantas.

The five aircraft to be inspected immediately are flown by Emirates, which has been directed to start the process as early as today.