Global Airbus A320 Crisis: India Ramps Up Software Fix Amid Flight Delays
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A software glitch in Airbus A320-family aircraft has led to a rare global recall, with over 11,000 planes requiring urgent upgrades. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an emergency directive, ordering operators to update software before their next flights to prevent a potential uncommanded elevator movement that could lead to structural failure. The crisis began after a JetBlue A320 experienced a sudden pitch-down on October 30, linked to a malfunction in one of its elevator-aileron computers. Investigations revealed that intense solar radiation could corrupt data supporting the aircraft's flight-control functions. India, with one of the world's largest A320 fleets, swiftly responded. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an Airworthiness Directive on Saturday, instructing airlines to install the fix immediately. IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express began upgrades across multiple bases. According to DGCA data, over 80% of the 338 affected Indian aircraft had completed upgrades by November 29. All updates must be finished by 5:29 am on November 30. While IndiGo and Air India did not cancel any flights, Air India Express grounded four flights due to ongoing software updates. Airlines reported no cancellations, with delays of 60-90 minutes occurring at multiple airports. IndiGo and Air India stated that schedule integrity remains largely intact, though some flights may be slightly delayed or rescheduled. The global recall involves Airbus's most widely used model, with over 6,500 aircraft requiring fixes worldwide. The manufacturer acknowledges that the fix will lead to operational disruptions for passengers and customers.
