European Union regulators have ordered Airbus to inspect its A380 jets, after cracks were discovered in crucial wing components of the planes.

According to The New York Times, the EU Aviation Safety Agency grounded five A380 jets on June 22, and ordered inspections for another 11 within their next 25 flight cycles. Cracks in the wing beam of some A380 planes were discovered during previous inspections, with regulators warning that the issue could compromise the wing's structural integrity. The wing beam runs length-wise through the wing from the fuselage to the wingtip, and acts as the backbone of the entire section. 

Neither Airbus nor the EU provided details as to which airlines owned the affected planes, although some are believed to belong to Emirates Airline. In a statement, the company said that it would comply with any inspections required by regulators, and would do any required repairs before returning the aircraft to service. 

In total, there are 173 A380 passenger jets in service around the world, with the last plane delivered in 2021. The A380 is also the world's largest passenger jet in service today, with the ability to carry as many as 850 people in certain layouts. In comparison, Boeing's largest plane — the 747-8 — carries a maximum of roughly 600 passengers.