Airbus has confirmed that an unspecified number of its aircraft will be inspected after a “supplier quality issue” was identified with metal panels used in some A320 aircraft.
The problem, which the firm said affected a “limited number” of planes, comes days after thousands of planes of the same model were grounded for an urgent software update.
On Tuesday, the European manufacturer said it was taking a “conservative approach” by examining all planes affected, although not all required repairs.
The company told AFP news agency that about 600 A320s, a model widely used by major airlines, may be affected. Airbus did not confirm the numbers in its response to the BBC.
“The source of the problem has been identified, contained and all newly produced panels meet all requirements,” an Airbus spokesperson told the BBC.
A statement continued: “Only inspection will determine where on the aircraft there may be panels with quality issues and what appropriate action should be taken.”
AFP quoted Airbus as saying that the number of planes to be inspected “is decreasing by the day as the inspection moves forward to identify those that require specific action”.
The BBC has contacted major airlines that use the A320, including British Airways, American Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa Airlines and Delta, for comment.
Earlier this week, thousands of Airbus planes were grounded for software updates after it was discovered that intense solar radiation could interfere with onboard flight control computers.
The issue was discovered when a plane traveling between the US and Mexico suddenly lost altitude due to low altitude, injuring 15 people.
More than 6,000 Airbus planes needed emergency computer updates in one of the aviation industry’s largest recalls ever.
This resulted in global disruption and flight cancellations over the last weekend of November, which is a busy time of year for travel – especially in the US, where it coincided with Thanksgiving.
Airbus shares have fallen more than 6.5% in the past five days.
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