Radiation threat hits flight computers
Airbus grounded thousands of planes after learning that intense solar radiation can disrupt key flight control computers. The discovery triggered global delays because around 6,000 A320 aircraft face the issue. Most planes will return to service once they receive a quick software update.
Regulators warn of travel disruption
The UK aviation regulator warned passengers about possible delays and cancellations but said airports face only limited impact so far. Airbus identified the fault during an investigation into an October incident where a jet flying between the US and Mexico suddenly lost altitude. The JetBlue aircraft diverted to Florida after several injuries on board.
Several Airbus families face the same flaw
The fault affects the A318, A319, A320 and A321 models. About 5,100 planes need a simple three-hour software fix. Another 900 older aircraft require full computer replacements and cannot carry passengers until engineers complete the work. The timeline depends on the supply of replacement computers. Airbus apologised for the service disruption.
Airlines report mixed effects
An aviation analyst told a London news outlet that this situation is highly unusual. Passenger disruption will vary depending on how fast each airline completes updates. British airports report mild effects. Gatwick noted some disruption while Heathrow confirmed no cancellations. Manchester Airport expects no major issues.
Different airlines face different disruption levels. British Airways appears lightly affected. Wizz Air and Air India have already started updates. Public data suggests Air France faces the heaviest strain with about 50 cancelled flights at its Paris hub. A travel journalist shared this based on open flight information. EasyJet first warned of disruption but later said it completed many updates and plans full Saturday operations.
Holiday traffic in the US increases pressure
In the United States the issue appeared during the crowded Thanksgiving travel period. American Airlines said 340 aircraft need updates and warned of some delays but expects to complete most fixes by Saturday. Delta said it expects only limited impact.
Australian carriers cancel flights
In Australia Jetstar cancelled 90 flights after confirming that about one third of its fleet needs updates. The airline expects ongoing disruption through the weekend even though most aircraft already received the fix.
Safety agencies respond quickly
A senior UK aviation official said the Airbus warning will cause delays and cancellations in the coming days. He stressed that aviation remains extremely safe due to strict maintenance rules. He called the mass grounding a very rare event.
The UK transport secretary said the impact on British airlines appears limited. She praised the swift global response and highlighted strong safety standards across the industry.
Solar radiation corrupts key altitude data
The fault involves software that calculates aircraft elevation. Airbus discovered that strong solar radiation at high altitudes can corrupt the data. This caused the October altitude loss. Airbus said no other similar incidents are known.
Europe’s safety agency ordered all affected aircraft to receive updates before carrying passengers again. Planes may still conduct ferry flights without passengers to reach maintenance sites. The A320 family relies on fly-by-wire systems, meaning computers interpret pilot commands rather than mechanical linkages.
