Airbus cargo doors must now be inspected for cracks, or limited in how far they open

The US aviation regulator is ordering inspections for cracks on cargo doors of certain Airbus A300 and A310 airplanes. If cracks are found, the doors must be replaced, or their opening angle will be limited.

Fatigue cracks on cargo doors are a known problem for older aircraft. This order means airlines operating these specific Airbus models must now actively check for this issue. It forces a choice: either pay for inspections and potential replacements, or accept a permanent operational restriction on how cargo can be loaded.