Airbus on Tuesday said it would inspect 16 A380 planes, five of them immediately, after cracks were found in a key wing component on aircraft used by the Emirates and Qantas airlines. Of the 16 planes to be inspected, 15 are operated by Emirates and one by Qantas.

The air safety directive to Qantas and other airlines for some of their A380s comes amid reports that the Australian carrier is eyeing a replacement plane for the superjumbo.

The air safety directive to Qantas and other airlines for some of their A380s comes amid reports that the Australian carrier is eyeing a replacement plane for the superjumbo.