Airbus A380 Inspections Ordered for Wing Intergrity

European Aviation Safety Agency Orders Airbus A380 Wing Inspections

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an airworthiness directive that called for an inspection of all 68 A380s' wing rib feet: L-shaped metal brackets that connect the wing's ribs to its skin. Each A380 has around 4,000 rib feet.

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According to the EASA, "This condition, if not detected and corrected, could potentially affect the structural integrity of the aeroplane."

So far, cracks in the rib feet were found in two Airbus 380s operated by Singapore Airlines, and two operated by Qantas. The Airbus A380 inspection was originally ordered for planes that have logged more than 1,300 flights, but now is required for each A380 in service.

Airbus, which is staking its future on the success of the A380, asserts that potential defects in the wing rib feet do not compromise the planes' airworthiness.