A widespread grounding of Airbus A320 aircraft is underway globally after the manufacturer issued an urgent directive to address a potential flight control vulnerability. The issue, stemming from susceptibility to solar radiation impacting navigation systems, affects approximately 6,000 planes and has already led to critically important flight disruptions across multiple continents. Airlines are scrambling to implement software and, in roughly 1,000 cases, hardware updates, with passengers facing potential delays and cancellations throughout the weekend and beyond. Airbus initiated the directive following an incident with a JetBlue flight in October where the aircraft experienced an unexpected descent, prompting investigations that revealed the solar radiation risk.
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Airbus is urging airlines to “immediately stop flights” of approximately 6,000 of its A320 aircraft to replace a navigation control system susceptible to solar radiation, a company spokesperson confirmed Friday. The directive has already triggered flight delays and cancellations worldwide, impacting travel from the Philippines to Colombia.
The action follows a technical incident in late October involving a U.S.-based aircraft that revealed intense solar radiation could corrupt critical flight control data, Airbus explained in a communication to its customers. The European aerospace giant subsequently recommended grounding the affected planes.
While software updates will resolve the issue for the majority of aircraft within a matter of hours, roughly 1,000 planes will require hardware replacements, a process expected to take weeks, according to a source familiar with the matter. The affected system is the ELAC (Elevator and Aileron Computer), which controls the aircraft’s elevators and ailerons.
“Airbus recognizes that these recommendations will cause operational disruptions for passengers and customers. We apologize for the inconvenience and will work closely with operators, keeping safety as our absolute and primary priority,” the company stated.
Air France has already canceled 35 flights on Friday and is assessing the impact for Saturday. Affected customers are being notified individually via SMS and email, a spokesperson said.
Avianca, the Colombian airline, reported “significant” disruptions to its schedule, as the software update affects over 70% of its fleet, and has suspended ticket sales until December 8. American Airlines anticipates “some delays” but expects to complete the necessary program updates for its approximately 340 aircraft by Saturday.
JetBlue declined to comment on the incident but confirmed it had begun implementing the required modifications on some A320 and A321 aircraft. Air India also warned of potential delays due to the grounding of some planes. Delta Air Lines expects to complete updates to a portion of its A320 and A321neo fleet by Saturday morning.
In the Philippines, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have canceled over 40 flights, offering passengers refunds or date changes. Mexican low-cost carriers Volaris and Viva Aerobús reported Friday that their operations would experience delays and are taking steps to minimize the impact on travelers, though they did not specify the number of affected flights or aircraft.
The technical issue originated on October 30, when an Airbus A320 operated by JetBlue experienced a flight control problem due to a computer malfunction. During cruise between Cancún, Mexico, and Newark, New Jersey, the aircraft unexpectedly descended without pilot input. The plane ultimately landed in Tampa, Florida, with several passengers reportedly injured, according to local fire officials.
The Airbus A320, first entering service in 1988, is the world’s best-selling aircraft. As of September, it had surpassed Boeing’s 737, whose first model was delivered in 1968, with 12,257 deliveries compared to 12,254 for the 737. This development underscores the competitive dynamics within the global aerospace industry.
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