Airbus has issued a major recall of its A320 family of aircraft after a mid-air incident raised concerns about the plane's safety. The move affects over half of the global fleet, with airlines from around the world - including major carriers like American Airlines and Lufthansa - warning of flight delays and cancellations.
According to Airbus, the issue is related to intense solar radiation that may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls. This has led the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to instruct all A320 operators to perform a software update as a precautionary measure.
The recall applies to 6,000 aircraft, with airlines having just days to complete the work before they can fly again. American Airlines is expected to have around two hours of downtime for each of its affected planes, while Lufthansa has confirmed it will take some aircraft out of service for repairs.
Industry sources suggest that the problem was first identified after a JetBlue flight from Mexico to New Jersey suffered an unexpected drop in altitude, injuring several passengers. The incident highlighted the importance of ensuring that critical flight systems are functioning correctly.
The move comes at a challenging time for airlines, with already-strained maintenance facilities dealing with shortages of capacity and long waiting times for separate engine repairs or inspections. Hundreds of aircraft may also need hardware changes, potentially leading to longer delays.
Major carriers have confirmed they are preparing for the recall, but some have downplayed its impact. EasyJet has said it expects minimal disruption, while Ireland's Aer Lingus is not expecting major operational disruption.
As one transport secretary noted, "the good news is it seems the impact on UK airlines seems limited." The A320 remains a key workhorse in the skies, with around 11,300 aircraft in operation worldwide. Its recall highlights ongoing concerns about aviation safety and the need for manufacturers to prioritize maintenance and repairs.
According to Airbus, the issue is related to intense solar radiation that may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls. This has led the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to instruct all A320 operators to perform a software update as a precautionary measure.
The recall applies to 6,000 aircraft, with airlines having just days to complete the work before they can fly again. American Airlines is expected to have around two hours of downtime for each of its affected planes, while Lufthansa has confirmed it will take some aircraft out of service for repairs.
Industry sources suggest that the problem was first identified after a JetBlue flight from Mexico to New Jersey suffered an unexpected drop in altitude, injuring several passengers. The incident highlighted the importance of ensuring that critical flight systems are functioning correctly.
The move comes at a challenging time for airlines, with already-strained maintenance facilities dealing with shortages of capacity and long waiting times for separate engine repairs or inspections. Hundreds of aircraft may also need hardware changes, potentially leading to longer delays.
Major carriers have confirmed they are preparing for the recall, but some have downplayed its impact. EasyJet has said it expects minimal disruption, while Ireland's Aer Lingus is not expecting major operational disruption.
As one transport secretary noted, "the good news is it seems the impact on UK airlines seems limited." The A320 remains a key workhorse in the skies, with around 11,300 aircraft in operation worldwide. Its recall highlights ongoing concerns about aviation safety and the need for manufacturers to prioritize maintenance and repairs.
Airbus Air Safety Alert: I think it's crazy how they're recalling so many planes, like over half of the global fleet! 
You'd think that's a huge deal and people would be worried, but airlines are already dealing with other issues like engine repairs and shortages. It just goes to show that maintenance is key in aviation safety.
And what about all those planes that have been affected already? Like, JetBlue's incident was pretty scary... 
. Airlines are gonna be really busy trying to get all these planes back in the air...
. A mid-air incident on a JetBlue flight from Mexico to NJ was like a wake-up call 
.
. And now airlines are dealing with delays and cancellations - talk about a headache 
, with American Airlines already prepping for the downtime and Lufthansa not wanting to take any risks 
. EasyJet is trying to be calm 
but I'm not sure even they can avoid some disruption.
, but this recall highlights how critical maintenance and repairs are in aviation safety 
. Let's hope these planes get fixed ASAP so we can all fly safely again 
.
️? So like, it's a mid-air incident that made everyone go "oh no" 
? I mean, I get it, safety first and all that, but two hours of downtime for each plane is still kinda a big deal, you know? 
I'm imagining the airlines are already stressed with their maintenance facilities being low on capacity 
. And what if some planes need hardware changes too? That's just a recipe for disaster 
I mean, i know there was some issue with solar radiation corrupting data but like, how didnt they catch that sooner?! 
I'm kinda surprised the recall isn't more widespread given the number of affected planes... like 6,000? 
. And hey, at least the industry is being proactive about maintenance and repairs - it's all about keeping our skies safe 
Airbus is doing this huge recall on its A320 planes because of some solar radiation thingy 
I'm literally shaking thinking about those passengers on that JetBlue flight who got injured after the plane dropped like 10,000 feet in an instant 
. Major carriers are downplaying it, but still like, a lot of people are getting worried 
anyway, been hearing about delays and cancellations on social media... fingers crossed mine won't be one of them 
. The issue is related to intense solar radiation corrupting critical flight control data, which the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is now instructing all A320 operators to update as a precautionary measure 
.
. This incident highlights the importance of ensuring that critical systems are functioning correctly 
. Given the already-strained maintenance facilities and shortages of capacity, hundreds of aircraft may need hardware changes, potentially leading to longer delays 
.
. As one transport secretary noted, "the good news is it seems the impact on UK airlines seems limited"