Thousands of Airbus A320-family aircraft were temporarily grounded worldwide after the European manufacturer discovered that intense solar radiation could interfere with onboard flight-control computers, potentially compromising safety.
The issue, linked to a software component that calculates a plane’s elevation, affects around 6,000 A320-series jets—almost half of Airbus’s global fleet. Many aircraft were cleared to resume operations within hours after undergoing an urgent software update, but older models will require hardware replacements and could remain grounded for days.
Airbus said it uncovered the vulnerability during an investigation into an October incident in which a JetBlue Airways flight from the United States to Mexico suddenly lost altitude, injuring at least 15 people and forcing an emergency landing in Florida. According to the manufacturer, that remains the only recorded incident, but the risk prompted a rare mass grounding.
The update can be installed in about three hours on roughly 5,100 aircraft, while the remaining 900 older jets must have flight-control computers replaced entirely before they can carry passengers again.
Aviation regulators warned travellers to expect some disruption. The UK Civil Aviation Authority said delays and cancellations were likely, though impact at major airports appeared limited by Saturday. Gatwick reported “some disruption,” while Heathrow said operations remained normal.
Several airlines, including Wizz Air and EasyJet, confirmed that they had already completed most of the required updates. In the United States, the grounding coincided with Thanksgiving travel, with American Airlines reporting 340 affected aircraft and “some operational delays.”
In Australia, Jetstar cancelled 90 flights after about one-third of its fleet was impacted.
Airbus apologised for the disruption but stressed that the action was precautionary and reflects the aviation industry’s high safety standards.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive mandating the fix before aircraft return to service. Impacted planes may operate only ferry flights—without passengers—to reach maintenance facilities.
The A320 family operates on a “fly-by-wire” system, relying on computers rather than direct mechanical controls. The software vulnerability, Airbus says, was triggered by intense bursts of solar radiation at high altitudes that can corrupt onboard data.
Despite the disruption, officials emphasised that air travel remains one of the safest modes of transport, with strict maintenance protocols ensuring rapid responses to emerging risks.
