Airbus Recalls Thousands of A320 Jets, Impacting indonesian Airlines
Jakarta, Indonesia – Airbus is recalling approximately 6,000 A320 aircraft worldwide, including those operated by six Indonesian airlines, due to a software flaw potentially triggered by solar radiation.The European aircraft manufacturer announced the recall on Saturday, November 29th, following concerns the issue may have contributed to a recent incident involving a JetBlue flight.
The widespread recall centers on a vulnerability in the flight control system’s software, where data can be corrupted by solar radiation. While repair times are expected to be minimal – jets can be inspected and repaired while parked – the timing is particularly challenging as the A320 is a popular choice for holiday travel in the United States, a key market. This represents one of the largest recalls in Airbus’s history.
According to Airbus, the software problem affects critical flight control data. industry sources have linked the issue to an October 30th incident where a JetBlue A320 en route from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, experienced a sudden loss of altitude, injuring several passengers before making an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida. The Federal Aviation Governance (FAA) immediately inspected the aircraft following the event.
The six Indonesian airlines operating A320 aircraft – Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air, Sriwijaya Air, and AirAsia Indonesia – will be required to implement the software update.F. Laisa, representing Airbus, confirmed the recall.
“The timing is obviously not ideal as this is one of the most frequently used aircraft during holidays (in the US),” stated Mike Stengel of AeroDynamic Advisory,as quoted by Reuters.
Neither JetBlue nor the FAA have publicly commented on the recall. Airbus expects the repair process to be straightforward, minimizing disruption to airline schedules.