FAA tightens brake inspection rules for newest Airbus jets

The US aviation regulator is requiring closer inspection of landing gear brake parts on certain Airbus A350 aircraft after discovering a missing component during routine checks. Airlines will now have to inspect and potentially replace brake hardware that was previously considered adequately maintained, adding work and cost to existing maintenance schedules.

A specific safety gap was found in a new aircraft model after it entered service — this is a signal that either the original design approval process missed something, or that real-world use reveals problems that lab testing doesn't catch, which may prompt regulators to look more carefully at the newest generation of aircraft before similar issues accumulate.