Global Flight Disruptions Hit Airbus Fleets
Airbus grounds thousands of planes after discovering intense solar radiation can interfere with flight control computers, causing worldwide delays. Around 6,000 A320-family jets are affected, representing half of Airbus’ global fleet. Most aircraft can return to service after a quick three-hour software update. The UK aviation regulator warns of potential delays and cancellations, although airports report limited impact.
October Altitude Incident Sparks Investigation
Airbus identifies the problem after investigating an October event where 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 are injured. The vulnerability also affects the A318, A319, and A321 models.
Software Updates and Hardware Replacements Begin
About 5,100 jets require only a software update, while 900 older planes need full computer replacements. These older aircraft cannot carry passengers until replacement work is complete. Timelines depend on the availability of new hardware. Airbus apologises for operational disruption affecting passengers and airlines.
Airports Report Varying Levels of Impact
An aviation analyst calls the situation highly unusual and notes that passenger disruption depends on each airline’s upgrade speed. Gatwick reports some delays, Heathrow sees no cancellations, and Manchester Airport expects minimal problems. British Airways faces limited impact, while Wizz Air and Air India already began updates.
Airlines Worldwide Adjust Quickly
Data shows Air France faces the greatest disruption with around 50 cancelled flights from its Paris hub on Saturday morning, according to travel experts. EasyJet expects minor disruption but says many jets already received updates and plans a full Saturday schedule. In the US, the issue coincides with the busy Thanksgiving travel period. American Airlines reports 340 affected aircraft and warns of delays but expects most updates to finish by Saturday. Delta predicts limited disruption.
Australian Flights Also Affected
Jetstar cancels 90 flights after confirming that roughly one third of its fleet is affected. Disruptions are expected to continue through the weekend even though most jets already received updates. A senior UK Civil Aviation Authority official warns of possible delays and cancellations but stresses aviation remains extremely safe. He calls the grounding a very rare event.
Officials Praise Rapid Response
The UK transport secretary says the impact on British airlines is limited. She welcomes the swift global reaction and emphasises strong international safety standards.
Solar Radiation Corrupts Elevation Software
The flaw affects software that calculates aircraft altitude. Airbus finds that strong solar radiation at high altitudes can corrupt this data. The October incident was the only known occurrence of its kind. The European aviation regulator issues an emergency directive requiring all affected aircraft to receive updates before carrying passengers. Aircraft may operate ferry flights without passengers to reach maintenance bases.
Fly-By-Wire Controls Depend on Accurate Data
The A320 family uses fly-by-wire controls where pilot inputs pass through computers rather than mechanical links. Accurate software is essential for safe flight operations.
