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Airbus Alert Triggers Software Upgrades for Up to 6,000 A320s, Sparking Flight Disruptions

01:12 PM, 11/29/2025
Airbus Alert Triggers Software Upgrades for Up to 6,000 A320s, Sparking Flight Disruptions

Airbus has warned that up to 6,000 A320-family jets may require software updates after an October computer malfunction raised concerns that intense solar radiation can corrupt flight-control data. Most aircraft can be updated in a few hours, but about 1,000 may need weeks of work, prompting cancellations and delays for carriers including Air France, Avianca and American Airlines. Regulators and manufacturers stress that safety is paramount as airlines carry out the required updates and notify affected passengers.

Airlines worldwide reported delays and cancellations after Airbus issued an urgent alert saying as many as 6,000 in-service A320-family aircraft may require a software update following an October in-flight computer malfunction on an A320. The manufacturer warned that intense solar radiation could corrupt data critical to flight-control systems, prompting immediate precautionary action by operators and regulators.

Air France cancelled 35 flights as it began adjustments to schedules, while Colombian carrier Avianca said about 70% of its fleet was affected. American Airlines said it had already started updating software and expected the vast majority of roughly 340 affected aircraft to be serviced within a day, though some delays were anticipated. United Airlines reported it had not been affected.

Incident and technical details

The alert follows an October 30 flight in which an A320 operated by a U.S. carrier experienced an in-flight control issue caused by a computer malfunction; the aircraft diverted and landed safely, and some passengers were reported injured. Airbus said its analysis indicates that intense solar activity can, in rare cases, corrupt data used by flight controls.

Most affected aircraft can undergo a software replacement that takes a few hours. However, Airbus has warned that roughly 1,000 A320s may require a more complex fix that could take weeks to complete, creating short-term disruption for multiple carriers.

Who is responsible?

Thales, which supplies the flight-control computer hardware, confirmed its equipment meets Airbus specifications and is certified by European and U.S. regulators. The company noted, however, that the specific software functionality at issue is provided by a third party and not maintained by Thales. Airbus has not named the software developer publicly.

Regulatory response and passenger impact

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said Airbus had informed it of the issue and that the recommended precautionary measures may cause short-term schedule disruption. Regulators and manufacturers emphasized that safety remains the top priority and urged airlines to follow the update guidance promptly.

What passengers should expect: Airlines are notifying affected customers directly by SMS or email. Travelers should check flight status with their carrier before heading to the airport and allow extra time for departures while updates are completed.

The A320 family—produced since 1988—remains the world’s best-selling airliner, with more than 12,200 delivered, underscoring why any fleetwide software issue can have broad operational consequences.

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