Airbus A318 A319 A320 And A321 Fleet Grounded Due to Solar Radiation Issue

Thousands of Airbus A320 jets worldwide have been grounded after a technical issue was discovered, linked to intense solar radiation interfering with onboard flight-control computers. The problem affects around 6,000 aircraft, roughly half of Airbus’s global fleet, and is expected to cause significant disruptions to flight schedules.

The issue was triggered by a JetBlue flight incident on October 30, where the plane unexpectedly pitched downward, forcing an emergency landing. Airbus has since identified that intense solar radiation can corrupt data critical to flight controls, and is working with aviation authorities to implement a software fix.

Approximately 5,100 aircraft can be returned to service with a software update, taking around three hours. However, around 900 older aircraft require physical replacement of onboard computers, which may take longer. Airlines are experiencing delays and cancellations, and passengers are advised to expect disruptions.

Airlines such as American Airlines, Delta, and JetBlue are among those affected. Passengers are checking with their airlines for updates, as the situation continues to unfold.