Airbus orders Grounding of A320 Fleet Due to Solar Radiation Vulnerability
November 29, 2025 - 06:07 – Airbus has issued an urgent directive to airlines operating its A320 aircraft to “immediately stop flights” of approximately 6,000 planes to facilitate the replacement of a navigation control programme susceptible to disruption from solar radiation. The announcement, made by a company spokesperson to AFP on Friday, has triggered flight delays and cancellations globally, impacting travel from locations including the Philippines and Colombia.
The directive stems from a technical incident that occurred in late October involving a device in the United States.Analysis revealed that intense solar radiation could potentially corrupt critical data used for flight command operations.
While software updates will resolve the issue for the majority of aircraft within “a few hours,” roughly 1,000 planes will require hardware replacements,a process expected to take “weeks,” according to a source familiar with the matter. The affected system is the ELAC (Elevator and Aileron Computer), responsible for controlling the aircraft’s elevators and ailerons.
Airbus acknowledged the operational disruption this will cause and issued an apology to passengers and customers. The company stated it will prioritize safety and work closely with operators throughout the update process.
Airline Impacts:
several airlines have already begun responding to the directive. Air France has cancelled 35 flights on Friday and is assessing the impact on Saturday’s schedule. Affected customers are being notified via SMS and email.
Avianca, a Colombian airline, reported “significant” effects on its operations, with the program update impacting over 70% of its fleet. Ticket sales have been suspended until December 8.
American Airlines anticipates “some delays” but expects to complete the software update on its fleet of approximately 340 aircraft by Saturday.JetBlue has initiated modifications on some A320 and A321 aircraft but declined to provide further comment. Air India has warned of potential delays due to grounded planes.
Delta Air Lines aims to complete upgrades on a portion of its A320 and A321neo fleet by Saturday morning.
In the Philippines,Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have cancelled over 40 flights,offering refunds and rescheduling options to impacted passengers. Mexican low-cost carriers Volaris and Viva Aerobús have reported anticipated delays and are implementing measures to minimize disruption to travelers,though specific details regarding affected flights and aircraft numbers were not disclosed.
Incident Background:
The issue originated from an incident on October 30, when a JetBlue Airbus A320 experienced an in-flight control problem during a cruise between Cancún, Mexico, and Newark, United States. the aircraft unexpectedly descended without pilot input, ultimately landing in Tampa, Florida, where several passengers reportedly sustained injuries.
The Airbus A320, first entering service in 1988, is the world’s best-selling aircraft. As of September, Airbus had delivered 12,257 A320 units (including private versions), surpassing Boeing’s 737, which began deliveries in 1968 with a total of 12,254 units delivered as of the same period.
