29 November 2025 — Global aviation has been hit by major disruptions after Airbus ordered a grounding of around 6,000 A320 family aircraft worldwide. The decision came after a dangerous software fault was linked to flight-control issues caused by high solar radiation.
The A320 lineup — including A319, A320, A321 and their neo versions — is the most widely used aircraft family on short- and medium-haul routes. Because of this, airlines in the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East have been forced to cancel or delay thousands of flights.
What Caused the Warning
A recent incident during a JetBlue flight raised the alarm. The aircraft suddenly lost altitude mid-air, and investigators later found a problem in the flight-control computer known as ELAC (Elevator and Aileron Computer).
This computer controls up-and-down movements of the aircraft and wing surfaces. Under certain conditions, solar flares and radiation at high altitude can corrupt software data inside the system. This may cause incorrect commands — posing a serious safety risk.
Airbus confirmed the issue and issued a mandatory software rollback to a previous version. For older aircraft, a hardware replacement will also be required.
How Long Will Fixes Take
- For newer jets, the fix may take 2–3 hours, allowing aircraft to return to service quickly.
- Older aircraft could be grounded for days or even weeks because parts must be replaced and safety checks completed.
The grounding has become one of the largest safety actions in Airbus history.
Impact on India
India has one of the largest fleets of A320 jets in the world. IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, and Vistara rely heavily on these aircraft for domestic and regional routes.
Because of the grounding:
- Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or rescheduled across major airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
- Passengers in India are facing long waiting times, sudden rebooking, and last-minute gate changes.
- Airlines have asked travellers to check flight status before leaving for the airport, as daily schedules are changing frequently.
- Some routes are now using smaller aircraft or wide-body jets to handle crowds, but availability remains limited.
Passengers flying during the weekend and early December are expected to see longer queues, packed planes, and fewer alternate flights.
Why Passengers Should Take This Seriously
Experts say the issue is not a cosmetic bug — it affects core flight-control systems. Authorities grounded planes as a safety-first move, not as a routine update.
Modern aircraft rely heavily on digital systems and are sensitive to extreme radiation, especially during solar storms. Aviation regulators warn that space weather may become a new safety risk in the digital era of aviation.
What You Should Do If You Have Booked a Flight
- Check your flight status online every few hours.
- Expect delays or cancellations, especially on A320 family flights.
- Allow extra time at the airport due to rebooking queues.
- If your flight is cancelled, airlines will offer refunds, alternative flights, or travel credits, depending on your ticket type.
As airlines rush to update thousands of aircraft, passengers around the world — and especially in India — will continue to feel the disruptions. For now, the priority is clear: safety over schedules.
