World's largest passenger plane faces urgent inspections and Toronto route affected

Aircraft manufacturing company Airbus is facing urgent safety concerns after cracks were discovered in the wings of some of its A380 superjumbos, known as the world's largest passenger planes, prompting inspections ordered by European regulators.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive on Monday that required inspections of 16 Airbus A380 aircraft after cracks were found in wing spars that could reduce their structural integrity.

The affected aircraft were split into two groups, namely Group 1, which includes five planes operated by Emirates. These aircraft are required to be inspected immediately and are not allowed to carry any passengers until further inspections and any required fixes are completed.

Group 2 includes 11 aircraft, ten of which are operated by Emirates and one that is operated by Australian-based carrier Qantas. Aircraft in this group must be inspected within 25 flight cycles after the effective date of the EASA directive.

In total, 15 of the affected aircraft are operated by Emirates, based on the manufacturer serial numbers listed in the directive and reported tracking data from FlightRadar24. One of the aircraft included is registered as A6-EET and serves Emirates' Toronto-to-Dubai route, among others.

The superjumbo has been in service for nearly 13 years and falls under the second inspection group, which allows it to continue operating but requires checks within the directive's set timeframe.

Airbus also says it has identified a smaller group of aircraft with "similar operating histories" and is working to support inspections on those jets as well. The company added that it will work with EASA to determine whether repairs are needed on those jets or if aircraft can return to regular service, depending on the inspection results.

An Emirates spokesperson has told media outlets that the airline will comply with the inspections as set out by the directive.

Emirates was the first carrier to bring the massive A380 aircraft to Canada, and increased its service to Dubai in 2023, with one departure daily. The aircraft is known for its luxurious amenities, especially in first class, where passengers can take advantage of flat-bed seating, shower spas, mood lighting, private suites, and zero-gravity seat settings.