Airbus to inspect up to 628 A320 aircraft over concerns with metal plate quality.

PARIS, Dec 3 — Airbus announced yesterday that up to 628 of its A320 aircraft worldwide may require inspections due to a metal plate “quality issue.”

In a statement to AFP, the European manufacturer clarified that the figure represents the “total number of potentially affected aircraft” and does not mean all planes are necessarily impacted. The number of aircraft needing checks is “reducing day by day” as inspections determine which require specific action.

Airbus said the issue, identified on Monday, stems from a “supplier quality issue” but is “contained” and affects only a “limited number of A320 metal panels.” Shares dropped after the news, as quality problems with fuselage panels had already delayed some A320 deliveries.

This follows a separate incident last week, when Airbus revealed that around 6,000 A320 planes were grounded until a software upgrade could be implemented after an incident in the United States.

The A320, produced since 1988, remains the world’s best-selling aircraft, with 12,257 units sold by the end of September, slightly surpassing Boeing’s 12,254 737s. — AFP