One of Qantas’ Airbus A380s has been swept up in a global safety inspection program after aviation regulators identified cracks in a structural component inside the wings of some of the world’s largest passenger aircraft.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, European aviation authorities have ordered urgent inspections on selected Airbus A380 aircraft after cracks were discovered in an internal wing spar component, raising concerns about long-term structural integrity.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive requiring affected aircraft to undergo detailed inspections within strict timeframes before they can continue operating.
“It has been determined that the cracks found on certain aeroplanes could reduce the structural integrity of the wing,” the agency stated in its directive. “To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus determined that an additional special detailed inspection has to be accomplished.”
The directive affects a limited number of aircraft identified by serial number. Among them is a Qantas A380, registered VH-OQI, which is currently undergoing heavy maintenance in Germany.
A Qantas spokesperson told the SMH there would be no impact on the airline’s current operations.
“The aircraft was already in scheduled maintenance and we will comply with any additional requirements as a result of this airworthiness directive,” the spokesperson said.
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has adopted the European directive for Australian-registered aircraft.
“All European Emergency Airworthiness Directives automatically apply to all Australian registered aircraft and we also distributed the directive to industry today,” CASA said.
The aircraft has been in Dresden since March, according to flight tracking data cited by the publication.
Cornerstone of long-haul
Qantas currently operates a fleet of 10 A380s, all of which have been refurbished and returned to service following the pandemic. The airline completed the return of its final stored A380 in late 2025 and continues to use the type on high-demand routes including Sydney–Los Angeles, Sydney–Dallas, Sydney–London (via Singapore) and Melbourne–Los Angeles.
The airline has said the A380 will remain part of its fleet into the early 2030s. Qantas’ long-term fleet plan is to begin replacing the superjumbos from around FY32 with new Airbus A350s as part of its fleet renewal strategy.
Recent reports suggest the carrier is already evaluating what comes next, including potential additional orders for Airbus A350s or Boeing 787s to eventually replace the 485-seat giants.
Despite their popularity among travellers thanks to spacious cabins and quieter onboard experience, the superjumbos have faced several technical issues in recent years, including a wing slat incident on a Qantas flight to Los Angeles late last year.
