Tech & Science
Aviation safety
Europe Orders Emergency Checks on the Wings of the World's Biggest Jet
The EU's aviation regulator has ordered emergency inspections of 16 Airbus A380 superjumbos after cracks were discovered in a key structural beam inside the wing. Fifteen of the aircraft belong to Emirates and one to Qantas; five must be checked before they fly again. There is no fleet-wide grounding, but the order puts fresh scrutiny on Europe's flagship aircraft as the ageing giant is kept in service long after production ended.