Airbus Flights Return to Normal After Solar Radiation Software Update

Thousands of Airbus aircraft were briefly grounded after a warning that solar radiation could interfere with onboard computers. Airbus said roughly 6,000 A320-family planes were affected, with most requiring a software update and about 900 older aircraft needing a new computer.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said updates proceeded smoothly for more than 5,000 planes, and fewer than 100 still awaited the update on Saturday. Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury apologized for the logistical challenges and delays, stressing that teams were working to finish updates as quickly as possible.

Operational impact and rollout

In Paris, Air France departures and arrivals at Charles de Gaulle Airport saw some delays and cancellations, while American Airlines warned of possible operational delays though most updates were expected to be completed by the weekend. Delta Air Lines said the overall impact would be limited.

The United Kingdom’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, said airlines here worked through the night to apply the updates and air traffic flow remained largely normal. Gatwick reported some disruption, Heathrow reported no cancellations, and other major airports such as Manchester and Luton saw limited effects.

British Airways and Air India were not heavily affected. EasyJet reported completing updates on a large number of its aircraft and planned to operate normally. Wizz Air also resumed normal operations after overnight software updates.

In Australia, budget carrier Jetstar cancelled about 90 flights as a precaution, with most jets updated and disruptions expected to ease through the weekend. Air New Zealand grounded its A320s temporarily but resumed all flights once updates finished.

Root cause and aircraft affected

The issue came to light after a JetBlue flight over the United States and Mexico experienced an abrupt loss of altitude, prompting an emergency landing and injuries. Engineers traced the problem to the aircraft’s software, which calculates height above sea level; at high altitudes, intense solar radiation could corrupt data.

While the problem affected the A320 family—including the A318, A319, A320 and A321—older jets requiring new computer units remain grounded until those parts are available. Replacement times depend on computer supply and installation schedules.

Expert perspective

Industry safety expert Dr. Maya Chen noted that the rapid coordination across carriers helped minimize disruption. She added that ongoing supply and installation of replacement computers will determine how quickly all planes return to full capacity.

Summary

The software update addressed a data integrity risk caused by solar radiation that could affect flight calculations. Most A320-family planes have been updated, delivering a swift return to normal operations, while the oldest jets await hardware replacements. Travel across major airlines and airports resumed with minimal long-term disruption.

Key insight: Quick, coordinated software updates can minimize travel disruption after a safety alert tied to solar radiation affecting flight data.

BBC News