- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 29 Nov 2025 10:47 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Airbus A320 Flight News: Airlines across several continents scrambled on Friday after Airbus sounded an unprecedented global alarm, ordering immediate software repairs on thousands of A320-family aircraft. The decision followed an investigation into a JetBlue flight on October 30, where the aircraft suffered a sudden and sharp altitude drop, injuring at least 15 passengers. Early analysis suggested that intense solar radiation may have corrupted data inside a key flight-control computer.
The issue revolves around the ELAC, the Elevator and Aileron Computer which interprets pilot inputs and helps manage the aircraft’s pitch. Investigators found that a recent software update left the system vulnerable to data corruption during radiation spikes, prompting the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to classify the matter as a “precautionary but urgent” action.
Mass Groundings As Airlines Rush To Install Fix
The recall affects more than 6,000 jets, over half of the global A320 fleet making it one of the largest safety-driven interventions in Airbus’ history. At the time the bulletin was issued, almost 3,000 A320-family aircraft were airborne.
Airlines including American, Jetstar, ANA, Avianca, Lufthansa, easyJet, and multiple Asian carriers temporarily grounded affected planes to install the fix. American Airlines, the world’s largest A320 operator, said nearly 340 aircraft required the update. Most of the work is expected to finish within two days.
Japan’s All Nippon Airways cancelled 65 domestic flights and warned of further disruptions. Colombian carrier Avianca said over 70% of its fleet was impacted, forcing a temporary halt in new ticket sales until December 8. South Korea’s Korean Air confirmed software checks on 10 aircraft, while Air New Zealand also grounded part of its Airbus fleet.
Although the fix typically takes about two hours, some aircraft require hardware alignment, extending repair times for a small segment of the fleet.
Impact On India
India, home to one of the world’s biggest A320 deployments, is facing significant operational strain. IndiGo, which flies about 370 A320-family jets, said the “majority require the mandated software realignment” and warned passengers of temporary schedule changes.
Air India also confirmed that more than 100 of its A320 and A321 aircraft will undergo software or hardware resets. Both airlines said teams are working round-the-clock to finish the updates, though weekend disruptions are unavoidable.
What Passengers Should Expect Next
The incident highlights the sensitivity of fly-by-wire aircraft to software reliability and external atmospheric conditions. The timing coinciding with heavy holiday travel in many regions has amplified the disruption, but the decision reflects a safety-first approach. Aerospace consultants noted that reverting to the earlier software version prevents erroneous pitch-control inputs triggered by corrupted ELAC data. Even a rare malfunction, they said, makes the mandatory update non-negotiable.
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Global airlines expect the situation to stabilize by early next week as software installations are completed. Regulators, meanwhile, continue reviewing the JetBlue incident and assessing how solar radiation contributed to a brief loss of altitude.
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Airbus, addressing the worldwide disruption, said the intervention was necessary to eliminate “a potential but unacceptable risk” and restore full reliability across the A320 fleet. Air travel schedules will remain fluid over the weekend, but most operators expect normal operations to resume once updates are certified across their fleets.