On Saturday, Airbus ordered software updates for around 6,000 A320-family aircraft more than half of its global fleet after discovering that intense solar radiation could disrupt critical flight control systems. The emergency directive, issued on November 29, caused widespread flight cancellations and delays worldwide, affecting millions of passengers during the peak US Thanksgiving travel period.
The incident stems from an event on October 30, when a JetBlue flight traveling from Cancun to Newark abruptly descended without pilot control, injuring multiple passengers and prompting an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida. Investigators determined that the issue originated from the aircraft's ELAC 2 computer which manages elevator and aileron functions after strong solar radiation disrupted critical flight stability data.
"Intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls," Airbus stated, acknowledging the fixes would create "operational disruptions to passengers and customers." The European Union Aviation Safety Agency promptly released an urgent airworthiness directive, banning the operation of the affected aircraft until necessary repairs are finalized.
The recall hit at the worst possible time, with over seven million Americans expected to travel during Thanksgiving weekend. Major U.S. A320 operators like American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, and United faced immediate pressure to keep flights running. American first reported 340 affected jets, later revising the number to 209, and said most updates would be done within 48 hours. Delta expected minimal delays. In contrast, Avianca halted ticket sales through December 8 after finding that 70% of its fleet needed fixes.
The disturbance rapidly expanded across the globe. Air France called off 35 flights, Japan’s ANA canceled 65 flights scheduled for Saturday, and both IndiGo and Air India cautioned passengers about possible delays. Lufthansa, EasyJet, and Air New Zealand likewise experienced operational disruptions.
For about 4,000 aircraft, the solution is a simple software rollback that takes only a few hours. But roughly 1,000 older jets need new hardware, which could keep them grounded for weeks depending on parts and repair capacity. The recall comes as airlines already struggle with maintenance backlogs and grounded planes awaiting engine repairs.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the impact in Britain would be limited, with only a few planes needing complex fixes. EasyJet completed updates early and expected normal operations, while Air Canada said only a small part of its fleet used the affected software.