Airbus Orders Immediate software Update for A320 Fleet following Incident
WASHINGTON – Airbus has mandated an immediate software update for numerous A320 aircraft worldwide, prompting an expected emergency airworthiness directive from teh Federal Aviation Governance (FAA). The move comes after an investigation into an incident involving a sudden altitude drop on a JetBlue flight.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued the order, and Airbus confirmed to NPR that the affected aircraft include JetBlue Flight 1230, which experienced a rapid descent while traveling from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey on October 30, resulting in passenger injuries.
Airbus A320 family aircraft are the most widely used globally, with over 9,000 in operation, including 1,600 in the United States, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. The required software update could cause “operational disruptions to passengers and customers,” Airbus stated.
The update is occurring during a peak travel period, as millions are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday. American Airlines reported taking “swift action” and anticipated completing the updates on fewer than 150 remaining aircraft by Friday and Saturday, expecting “some delays” but aiming to limit cancellations.
Delta Air Lines anticipates “any resulting operational impact to be limited.” United Airlines initially stated its aircraft were unaffected, but later confirmed six planes would require the update, predicting “minor disruption to a few flights.” Frontier Airlines is evaluating the notice, and Allegiant Air is working to minimize potential delays, notifying impacted passengers directly.
NPR reached out to jetblue and Spirit Airlines for comment but has not yet received a response. The FAA has been contacted for comment and has not yet responded.
