Name: Airbus rush to update A320 software after planes sudden altitude drop
Uploaded: 2025-11-29T10:40:05.580Z
Duration: 1 min 49 s
Description: Airlines around the world canceled and delayed flights heading into the weekend to fix software on a widely used commercial aircraft after an analysis found the computer code may have contributed to a sudden drop in the altitude of a JetBlue plane last month.

Airlines around the world canceled and delayed flights heading into the weekend to fix software on a widely used commercial aircraft after an analysis found the computer code may have contributed to a sudden drop in the altitude of a JetBlue plane last month.

Leiden

Airbus has mandated immediate repairs to 6,000 A320 aircraft, representing more than half of its global fleet, after a flight control software issue was linked to a sudden loss of altitude on a recent commercial flight. The affected planes are grounded until the software is updated, with the manufacturer attributing the malfunction to possible interference from intense solar radiation.

Major airlines including Air France, American Airlines, and Avianca have reported significant disruptions, with flight cancellations and delays as they work to complete the necessary repairs. Airbus has stated that safety remains its top priority and that it is working closely with operators to minimize inconvenience.

Airbus rush to update A320 software after plane's sudden altitude drop

It's a best-selling aircraft used by commercial airlines across the world. Airbus has ordered immediate repairs to 6,000 of its A320s, more than half of its global fleet, due to a flight control software issue. For safety reasons, the planes cannot fly until repaired. The flight system in question sends commands from the pilot's side stick to elevators at the rear. It's manufactured by the French company TELUS, which insists it's not responsible for the problem. The incident that prompted the recall involved a flight from Cancun to Newark on the 30th of October. Several passengers were hurt after a sharp loss of altitude, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing in Florida. After analysis, Airbus claims that intense solar radiation may have been the culprit. We need to talk about solar storms, which are particles emitted by explosions on the sun's surface. They project a cloud of particles and can reach Earth in about 20 hours. But if this happens with significant intensity, it can disrupt computers and therefore the flight control linked to the computer gives you bad information. Repairs can be completed within a few hours for each plane, but disruptions will vary in length depending on the company. We apologize for any inconvenience and will work closely with operators while maintaining safety as our top priority. On Friday, Air France announced it was cancelling 35 flights, 5% of the airline's daily total. Meanwhile, American Airlines said 209 of its planes were affected and that it expects some delays. Colombian carrier Abianca said the recall concerned more than 70% of its fleet. It said it would halt ticket sales for travel dates through the 8th of December.

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