Model airplanes are displayed at the Airbus booth during the eighth China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Nov. 6, 2025. (Credit: Hector Retamal/AFP)
Some 6,000 Airbus A320 aircraft must urgently replace flight-control software vulnerable to solar radiation following an “event” in the United States involving a JetBlue plane in late October, a spokesperson for the manufacturer told AFP.
On Friday, Airbus notified all customers using the software to “immediately stop flights” after an analysis of the technical incident “revealed that intense solar radiation could corrupt critical data essential to the functioning of flight controls.”
The alert has caused delays and cancellations around the world, from the Philippines to Colombia.
For most aircraft, reverting the software to its previous version will take a few hours. But for about 1,000 planes, the fix will also require hardware changes, “which will take weeks,” a source close to the matter told AFP. The work involves an ELAC elevator/aileron computer made by the French company Thales.
Middle East Airlines, whose fleet includes several A320 and A321neo aircraft, said in a statement that it has taken the necessary measures on the affected planes. “The MEA fleet of ten A321neo is concerned and will be modified tonight to be ready for scheduled operations tomorrow. The MEA A320s are not affected and continue to operate with no modification necessary. MEA operations will continue as planned, without any change,” the airline said.
A control issue in flight
Airbus acknowledged that the recommendations will cause operational disruptions for passengers and customers. “We apologize for the inconvenience caused and will work closely with operators, while maintaining safety as our top priority,” the manufacturer said.
On Oct. 30, a JetBlue Airbus A320 experienced a flight-control issue due to a computer malfunction. The incident occurred during cruise between Cancun, Mexico and Newark, New Jersey, when the aircraft suddenly pitched downward without pilot input.
The pilots initiated a descent and diverted to Tampa, Florida. Tampa firefighters reported injuries among passengers to U.S. media.
The Airbus A320, which entered service in 1988, is the world’s best-selling aircraft. In September, it overtook Boeing’s 737 — whose first model was delivered in 1968 — as the top-selling single-aisle jet.
