Up to 6,000 Airbus A320s may need software fix due to solar radiation

Up to 6,000 Airbus A320 aircraft worldwide may require software upgrades due to a technical malfunction possibly caused by intense solar radiation corrupting flight control data.

This issue led to flight cancellations and delays globally, impacting airlines like JetBlue, Air France, and Avianca.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury acknowledged the fix caused significant logistical challenges and delays but assured that operators are working around the clock to deploy updates swiftly.

In the Philippines, 75 aircraft were impacted, resulting in 78 domestic flight cancellations and numerous delays, though half have already completed updates.

The Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) anticipates a return to normal flight schedules by Sunday noon.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been informed by Airbus and acknowledges potential short-term schedule disruptions.

The announcement followed an incident in the United States and raised concerns that hundreds of planes would need to be grounded for long periods, though several leading European airlines reported minimal or no cancellations.