Thousands of Airbus airplanes have been taken out of service worldwide after engineers uncovered a safety risk showing that intense solar radiation could interfere with flight-control computers, prompting widespread delays and cancellations.
Airbus says roughly 6,000 aircraft from the A320 family, including the A318, A319, and A321, are affected. The grounding represents nearly half of the company’s active global fleet. Most planes, however, are expected to resume operations quickly after undergoing a mandatory software update.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the development, warning travellers to expect “some disruption and cancellations,” though the overall impact at major airports has remained moderate so far.
The issue surfaced during an investigation into an October incident on a JetBlue Airways flight travelling between the United States and Mexico. Midway through the journey, the aircraft suddenly lost altitude, injuring at least 15 passengers, before diverting for an emergency landing in Florida.
Airbus engineers later traced the malfunction to a vulnerability in the aircraft’s flight-control computer system, one that could be triggered under specific conditions of heightened solar radiation.
According to Airbus, about 5,100 jets can be repaired with a three-hour software patch. But nearly 900 older aircraft will need a full hardware replacement, involving a complete swap of their onboard computers. These planes will remain grounded until the upgrade is completed and certified.
The aircraft manufacturer says it is coordinating closely with global aviation regulators and airline operators to manage disruptions while prioritising passenger safety.
