Sad news indeed. Have fond memories of this bird. Had my first A380 flight ever on it during EK's second ever A380 rotation flight from DXB to SYD two days after inaugural in early Feb 2009. Departure in DXB was delayed for three hrs after front steering broke down while taxiing to the active. Was towed back into stand, no deplaning while waiting for the fix. Didn't bother, as being in First Class, more time to down another bottle of Dom in the meantime in 3A . My first ever shower experience on FL360 during landfall over Australia. Bliss.