Airbus planes must now be checked for hidden manufacturing flaws

The US aviation regulator is ordering new inspections for many Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. This means operators must repeatedly check specific fasteners and holes for a manufacturing defect found during assembly.

A manufacturing deviation means some planes left the factory with potential structural flaws. This rule ensures those flaws are found and fixed before they become a safety problem. It is a standard safety measure when a specific defect is identified in a widely used aircraft type.