Airbus must check for cracks on new A321neo planes after a factory error

The US aviation regulator proposes a new rule requiring inspections on certain Airbus A321neo airplanes. This is because a manufacturing error during assembly could lead to cracks in the fuselage.

A small error in a factory process can have big consequences for aircraft safety. This proposed rule means airlines operating these specific Airbus models will need to add new, repetitive inspections to their maintenance schedules. It also means Airbus will likely have to fix its manufacturing process to prevent future issues.