European air safety officials are preparing to extend checks for Airbus A380 wing cracks to the entire super jumbo fleet, sources close to the matter said yesterday.

The move to inspect all 68 A380s in service came as Qantas Airways grounded one of its planes, saying engineers had found 36 wing cracks after the aircraft encountered severe turbulence.

The fleet-wide inspection order will refocus attention on flaws identified in flagship jets at both Airbus and Boeing.

The aircraft makers maintain that their newest jets remain safe to fly.

"This is an extension of a process already under way," said one of the officials, who asked not to be named.

"An effective repair has been identified."

A spokesman for the European Aviation Safety Agency was not immediately available for comment.