How is structural damage to a composite fuselage detected? When a service vehicle collides with the aircraft, the plastic nature could hide any subsurface fractures which could propagate as the aircraft goes through cycles.

How is potential damage diagnosed on the A350 or 787?
I can't personally speak for the Airbus, or Boeing methodology regarding damage diagnosis, however speaking as an A&amp;P IA FCC, experienced in the Business, and General Aviation Industry, the diagnosis will employ, one or a combination of all of the following inspection methods:


Visual  
Coin-Tap  
X-Ray  
Ultrasonic