Airbus Software Glitch Grounds Thousands of Planes – POLITICO
A technical malfunction has grounded a significant portion of the Airbus A320 fleet, affecting thousands of planes globally. The issue is linked to solar radiation potentially corrupting critical flight control data.
Airbus Grounds A320 Aircraft
In a statement released on Friday, Airbus revealed the discovery of an issue concerning its A320 family of aircraft. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) responded by temporarily pausing flights involving certain Airbus planes.
Incident Summary
This precautionary measure followed an emergency landing of a JetBlue flight, which originated in Florida and was headed to Mexico. The aircraft experienced a sudden altitude loss, resulting in 15 passengers being hospitalized.
Affected Aircraft and Airlines
- Approximately 6,000 A320 aircraft are affected by this software glitch.
- 85% of the impacted aircraft should receive a quick software fix.
- Key airlines affected include:
- Lufthansa
- Swiss
- Austrian Airlines
- Brussels Airlines reported no impact on its operations.
Airbus Response
Sara Ricci, the communications chief for Airbus’s commercial aircraft division, emphasized that the majority of the grounded planes would return to service promptly. She assured that the “vast majority” of the issues could be resolved swiftly.
This incident underscores the importance of software reliability in aviation. As Airbus works on necessary updates, the focus remains on passenger safety and swift operational recovery.
