EADS Assesses Financial Damage of A380 Wing Defect
Cracks to A380 wing rib feet forced Airbus to take a one-time charge in the first quarter of $202 million.
Mechanics found cracks in A380 wing rib feet first in a Qantas airplane, then in one operated by Singapore Airlines. (Photo: Airbus)
Mechanics found cracks in A380 wing rib feet first in a Qantas airplane, then in one operated by Singapore Airlines. (Photo: Airbus)

EADS incurred a further charge of €158 million ($202 million) during this year’s first quarter due to higher-than-expected costs associated with retrofit repairs to cracks in wing rib feet of Airbus A380s. First discovered in January by Airbus engineers engaged in repairing a Qantas A380 that suffered an uncontained engine failure near Singapore Changi Airport, the cracks prompted the EASA to issue an AD that calls for a detailed visual inspection of certain wing rib feet. Airbus has said the condition does not pose a safety threat, and the EASA stopped short of grounding any of the airplanes.