Airbus to Inspect Some Planes Over Quality Issue with Panels
Airbus has announced that a number of its aircraft will undergo inspections due to a supplier quality issue related to metal panels installed on some A320 planes. This situation has arisen just days after a wave of A320 aircraft was grounded for an urgent software update. The European manufacturer disclosed that this quality issue affects a limited number of planes, with estimates suggesting around 600 A320s—widely utilized by major airlines—might be involved.
Taking a precautionary stance, Airbus stated it would inspect all potentially affected aircraft, although not all are anticipated to require repairs. A spokesperson for Airbus assured that the source of the issue has been identified and contained, confirming that all panels produced recently meet the required standards.
Only inspections will determine where an aircraft may have panels with quality issues and the appropriate actions to be taken, added the spokesperson. Notably, the number of planes needing inspection is reportedly decreasing daily as the evaluations progress.
Earlier this week, the aviation industry faced another significant challenge when thousands of Airbus planes were grounded due to concerns that intense solar radiation could interfere with onboard flight control systems. This vulnerability was highlighted when a plane traveling between the US and Mexico experienced a sudden loss of altitude, injuring 15 passengers. The incident prompted one of the largest recalls in aviation history, affecting over 6,000 Airbus aircraft and leading to widespread disruptions during a peak travel period, particularly around Thanksgiving in the US.
In the wake of these issues, Airbus shares have fallen by more than 6.5% over the past five days. As inspections continue, major airlines operating the A320, such as British Airways, American Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, and Delta, have been contacted for comments on the situation.