Thousands of Planes Affected Worldwide
Airbus grounds thousands of jets after discovering that intense solar radiation can interfere with critical flight control computers. The move disrupts schedules globally. About 6,000 A320-family aircraft are affected, representing half of Airbus’ fleet. Most planes can return to service after a quick three-hour software update. The UK aviation regulator warns of flight delays and cancellations, although airports report limited impact so far.
Incident in October Sparks Investigation
Airbus identifies the problem after examining an October event in which a plane flying between the US and Mexico suddenly lost altitude. The JetBlue aircraft makes an emergency landing in Florida after at least 15 passengers suffer injuries. The vulnerability also affects the A318, A319, and A321 models.
Software Updates and Computer Replacements Underway
Around 5,100 aircraft require a simple software update, while 900 older planes need full computer replacements. These older jets cannot carry passengers until the work finishes, and timelines depend on replacement supply. Airbus apologises and acknowledges significant operational disruption for passengers and airlines.
Airports Report Varied Disruption
An aviation analyst describes the situation as highly unusual and says delays depend on each airline’s software upgrade pace. Gatwick reports some disruption, while Heathrow experiences no cancellations. Manchester Airport expects minimal impact. British Airways faces limited issues. Wizz Air and Air India already began updates.
Airlines Worldwide Race to Implement Fixes
Public data indicates Air France suffers the greatest disruption, with about 50 cancelled flights at its Paris hub on Saturday morning, according to travel experts. EasyJet expects minor disruptions but confirms many aircraft already received updates and plans a full Saturday schedule. In the US, the problem coincides with the busy Thanksgiving travel period. American Airlines reports 340 affected jets and warns of potential delays but expects most updates to complete by Saturday. Delta anticipates limited disruption.
Australian Flights Face Cancellations
Jetstar cancels 90 flights after confirming that one third of its fleet is affected. Disruptions are expected to continue through the weekend despite most jets already receiving updates. A senior UK Civil Aviation Authority official warns of delays and cancellations but emphasises that aviation remains extremely safe. He calls the mass grounding a very rare event.
Officials Praise Swift Response
The UK transport secretary says the impact on British airlines remains limited. She welcomes the rapid reaction and highlights strong international safety standards.
Solar Radiation Corrupts Altitude Calculations
The flaw involves software that calculates aircraft elevation. Airbus discovers that strong solar radiation at high altitudes can corrupt this data. This issue caused the October altitude loss but has not triggered other known events. The European aviation regulator issues an emergency directive requiring updates before passenger flights resume. Aircraft may still perform ferry flights without passengers to reach maintenance bases.
Fly-By-Wire Systems Depend on Accurate Software
The A320 family uses fly-by-wire controls that process pilot commands through computers rather than mechanical links. This design requires accurate data at all times, making reliable software essential for safe flight operations.
