Qantas takeoff

A Qantas A380 aircraft has been taken out of service for up to a week to allow engineers to mend 36 hairline cracks in its wings.

Found during routine inspections after hitting severe turbulence over India on a flight between London and Singapore early last month, the carrier has stressed that the cracks are no more than two centimetres long, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. 

Qantas told media that although they were found after turbulence, the cracks located in the wing-rib feet of the aircraft were due to a manufacturing issue at Airbus.

"This type of cracking is different from the 'type two' cracking found on certain A380s in the global fleet, which is now the subject of a European airworthiness directive,'' a spokesperson said.

''To date, type-two cracking has not been found on Qantas aircraft.''

Despite reports of cracks making headlines over the past month, Airbus said the A380s are still safe and they are currently working on a two-step fix for the cracked wings.