Thousands of Airbus aircraft have been temporarily grounded after engineers discovered that intense solar radiation could interfere with onboard flight-control computers, triggering delays and cancellations across several countries.
Airbus estimates that about 6,000 A320-family jets are affected, roughly half of the company’s global fleet. The issue also extends to the A318, A319 and A321 models.
However, most aircraft are expected to return to service quickly after undergoing a fast software update.
The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that travellers should expect “some disruption and cancellations,” though the impact at airports remains relatively contained.
The problem came to light during an investigation into a mid-air incident involving a JetBlue Airways flight travelling between the United States and Mexico in October. The aircraft suddenly lost altitude, injuring at least 15 people, before making an emergency landing in Florida.
Airbus engineers traced the malfunction to a vulnerability in the flight-control computer system, which under certain conditions could be affected by high-level solar radiation.
Approximately 5,100 planes can be fixed through a software patch expected to take around three hours per aircraft. But roughly 900 older jets will require a full replacement of their onboard computers, a more time-consuming process. These aircraft will remain grounded and will not be cleared to carry passengers until the hardware upgrade is completed.
Airbus says it is working closely with global regulators and airlines to minimise disruptions while ensuring passenger safety.
