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Airbus initiates checks on A320 aircraft due to supplier defect
European aerospace manufacturer Airbus has mandated inspections for an unspecified number of its A320-family jets following the discovery of a supplier-related quality issue affecting metal panels, the company confirmed on Tuesday.
Scope of the problem
While Airbus described the issue as impacting a "limited number" of aircraft, a spokesperson told the BBC that as many as 600 planes may require checks. However, not all inspected jets are expected to need repairs. Reuters reported that 168 in-service aircraft are among those affected.
The defect involves panels at the front of the aircraft, where some were found to be either thicker or thinner than specified. Airbus stated that the issue does not compromise flight safety but will require inspections to determine necessary corrective actions.
"The source of the issue has been identified and contained, and all newly produced panels meet all requirements,"
Airbus spokesperson
Airlines respond to inspection directive
Major carriers operating the A320 family, including British Airways, American Airlines, and Lufthansa, have been contacted for comment. Responses so far indicate varying levels of impact.
Delta Air Lines confirmed that its teams have completed the required work on fewer than 50 of its A321neo aircraft, with no operational disruptions reported. Lufthansa Group, which includes SWISS, ITA Airways, and Eurowings, stated that 11 of its recently delivered jets are affected. The group assured that inspections would proceed immediately while emphasizing that safety remains uncompromised and operations unaffected.
Korean Air, meanwhile, is awaiting further details from Airbus to assess whether any of its fleet is impacted.
Recent grounding adds to Airbus challenges
The panel inspections follow a separate incident earlier this week, when thousands of Airbus aircraft were temporarily grounded for an urgent software update. The update addressed a vulnerability in flight control computers caused by intense solar radiation, which led to an altitude loss during a flight between the U.S. and Mexico, injuring 15 passengers.
The software fix, described as one of the largest interventions in aviation history, affected over 6,000 jets and caused widespread flight cancellations during the busy Thanksgiving travel period in late November.
Market reaction and next steps
Airbus shares have declined by more than 6.5% over the past five days amid the dual technical setbacks. The company has not specified a timeline for completing the panel inspections or potential repairs.
