Sat, 29 Nov 2025

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 Planes grounded after Airbus discovers solar radiation could impact systems

The issue is thought to affect 6,000 planes, which will need to undergo an urgent software update or have computers replaced.
Airbus has grounded around 6,000 planes worldwide due to a software issue caused by intense solar radiation, which can interfere with onboard flight control computers. The affected models include A320, A318, A319, and A321. Approximately 5,100 planes will undergo a quick software update, while 900 older versions need new onboard computers. The issue was discovered after an investigation into an incident in October where a JetBlue Airways plane suddenly lost altitude during a flight from the US to Mexico. The problem is related to a piece of computing software that calculates elevation and can be corrupted by solar radiation at high altitudes. Airbus has apologized for the disruption and acknowledged it will cause "operational disruption" to passengers and customers. The UK's aviation regulator expects some cancellations and delays, but the impact appears limited so far. Airlines are taking different approaches to upgrade their software, with Lufthansa planning to take its aircraft out of service. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued an emergency airworthiness directive ordering the issue to be addressed before each plane can carry passengers again. The planes will be allowed to make "ferry flights" without passengers to reach a maintenance facility for repairs. Some airlines, including British Airways and Delta Airlines, are experiencing limited disruption, while others like Wizz Air and Jetstar have already started the software update process. Easyjet has completed updates on many aircraft and is planning a full service on Saturday. The Transport Secretary says the impact on UK airlines seems limited, but the situation may cause some disruption to passengers in the coming days.
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