Two Airbus A380 operators in the Asia-Pacific region will be sending their widebodies for inspections, following a proposed directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency about cracks in the outer rear wing spar. Qantas and Singapore Airlines, both operators of older A380s, confirm with FlightGlobal that a part of their fleet will be affected by the proposed EASA directive. The European agency disclosed on 5 July that cracks have been discovered in this area, notably on top and bottom flanges between ribs 33 and 49. This affects both wings, and could affect the structural integrity of both wings, EASA added. EASA says the directive would be limited to the 25 oldest wing sets on the A380 fleet, although it could subsequently expand to cover additional aircraft.

Source: FlightGlobal

A Virgin Atlantic flight out of New York City was forced to make an emergency landing in Boston following a cabin fire that authorities suspect was sparked by a phone charger. The London-bound plane was rerouted to Boston Logan International Airport, where all 217 passengers and crew were safely evacuated, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement. One passenger refused emergency medical treatment for a smoke-related complaint. The preliminary investigation has homed in on a phone charger, according to Massachusetts State Police, after wires were found protruding between passenger seat cushions where the fire originated. The blaze was extinguished by the flight crew.
When asked about the Virgin Atlantic incident, the FAA said in a statement, “Incident response and investigation is the top priority for the Hazardous Materials Safety Program and the FAA takes all incidents seriously.”

Source: World Airline News

British Airways is facing a fine of more than £183 million over several data breaches last year during which customer information was stolen. The UK Information Commissioner's Office has informed the carrier that it intends to penalise the operator with a fine equivalent to 1.5% of its global turnover for the 2017 financial year. British Airways disclosed last year that a theft of data from its website had taken place over the course of two weeks in August-September 2018. But it subsequently found that additional data may have been stolen from customers a few months earlier, in April-July. BA's turnover in 2017 reached £12.226 billion which means the overall fine amounts to just under £183.4 million.

Source: FlightGlobal