Airbus Recalls 6,000 A320-Series Aircraft Worldwide; Governments Issue Alert to Airlines

New Delhi: Global aviation was thrown into turmoil after European aerospace giant Airbus announced the recall of 6,000 aircraft from its A320-series fleet. The company confirmed a critical software vulnerability that could expose aircraft to intense solar radiation, potentially corrupting vital flight-control data.

The issue surfaced after a 30 October incident, when an A320 flying from Cancun (Mexico) to Newark (USA) experienced sudden flight-control malfunction, forcing an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida.

DGCA Issues Strict Advisory in India

Taking cognizance of the risk, India’s aviation regulator DGCA has directed all Indian carriers to ground their A320 aircraft until mandatory upgrades under EASA directives are completed.

The DGCA order states:
Operators must ensure “no person shall operate the aircraft unless all mandatory modifications and airworthiness requirements are fully complied with.”
Airlines have been asked to update the mandatory modification list and submit compliance as per the Airworthiness Manual, Chapter 7.

Global Operations Hit: Flights Cancelled, Delayed

The recall has triggered widespread disruptions across continents:

• American Airlines, the world’s largest A320 operator, said 340 aircraft need updates and expects major work to finish by Saturday.
• Lufthansa warned of cancellations and delays.
• Avianca, South America’s second-largest airline, halted ticket sales until 8 December as 70% of its fleet is affected.
• Wizz Air, Air France, Air New Zealand, Air India and Volaris reported weekend cancellations.

Some carriers like British Airways, EasyJet, Turkish Airlines, Aer Lingus, and United Airlines reported minimal or no operational impact.

Why the Recall Was Triggered

Airbus revealed that extreme solar radiation can interfere with electronic systems, corrupting data essential for flight-control operations. The malfunction in the Mexico–Newark flight caused the aircraft to descend abruptly, creating panic among passengers before pilots regained control.

Hundreds of jets may require hardware replacement, potentially grounding them for weeks. The software patch is being expedited to restore normalcy as quickly as possible.

Airbus Responds

Airbus acknowledged the inconvenience caused but stressed that the recall is essential for ensuring passenger safety.

The company is working directly with airlines to execute the upgrades and prevent future failures. Meanwhile, passengers worldwide are facing rescheduled flights, cancellations, and travel disruptions as airlines race to comply with regulatory directives.