US Airlines Face Short-Term Disruptions Due to Airbus Software Issue Ahead of Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend
A software issue on the widely used Airbus A320 commercial aircraft has raised concerns about flight disruptions during the busy Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the US. The incident, which occurred on October 30, involved a JetBlue flight that experienced issues with its flight controls, causing it to drop 100 feet in seven seconds.
The issue is believed to be related to "intense solar radiation" that may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls. As a result, Airbus has recommended an emergency software update to the A320 family of aircraft, which is used by many US carriers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have issued emergency orders grounding affected planes until further notice. However, airlines have reported progress in completing the updates ahead of schedule.
United Airlines said it expects only a small portion of its A320 fleet to be impacted by the updates, while Delta Air Lines will see less than 50 aircraft affected. American Airlines has downgraded the number of impacted aircraft from over 340 to 209 and expects most of these planes to be updated by Friday evening.
Airlines for America predicts that US carriers will fly a record 31 million passengers during the Thanksgiving holiday period, with the FAA expecting this year's travel period to be the busiest in 15 years.
Airbus has apologized to customers and assured airlines that its teams are working around the clock to support operators and ensure swift deployment of updates. The company is also implementing new procedures to restrict aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines in certain freezing winter weather conditions.
A software issue on the widely used Airbus A320 commercial aircraft has raised concerns about flight disruptions during the busy Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the US. The incident, which occurred on October 30, involved a JetBlue flight that experienced issues with its flight controls, causing it to drop 100 feet in seven seconds.
The issue is believed to be related to "intense solar radiation" that may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls. As a result, Airbus has recommended an emergency software update to the A320 family of aircraft, which is used by many US carriers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have issued emergency orders grounding affected planes until further notice. However, airlines have reported progress in completing the updates ahead of schedule.
United Airlines said it expects only a small portion of its A320 fleet to be impacted by the updates, while Delta Air Lines will see less than 50 aircraft affected. American Airlines has downgraded the number of impacted aircraft from over 340 to 209 and expects most of these planes to be updated by Friday evening.
Airlines for America predicts that US carriers will fly a record 31 million passengers during the Thanksgiving holiday period, with the FAA expecting this year's travel period to be the busiest in 15 years.
Airbus has apologized to customers and assured airlines that its teams are working around the clock to support operators and ensure swift deployment of updates. The company is also implementing new procedures to restrict aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines in certain freezing winter weather conditions.
i was planning 2 fly w/ delta on thxsgiving and now i dont no if they'll even be flying 
american airlines said 209 planes will b affected but 340?? thats still a lot of people stuck in the airport lol what's going on w/ this software update tho? its like they're trying 2 cover their own tracks 
. I mean, come on, you'd think that Airbus would've caught this issue before releasing it to the masses, but I guess not 
. And now we're stuck with a bunch of flights being grounded and people's Thanksgiving plans getting ruined 
. And what's up with all these emergency orders? Can't we just have one smooth ride for once? 
Anyway, at least the airlines are working on it, I guess 
. This Airbus software issue is super annoying, especially since it's just ahead of Thanksgiving. I mean, can't we just get updates done on time like normal? 
flight disruptions are already a nightmare for travelers, and this software issue on top of it all? ugh my aunt is flying from nyc to chicago tomorrow and i'm getting anxious thinking about her flights being delayed or cancelled 
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what's the point of all these tech updates if they're just gonna break again? 
I can already imagine how stressful this must be for all those travelers who were looking forward to a smooth Thanksgiving holiday weekend 
, while we're just trying to get from point A to B without any major hiccups 
. And Airbus, yeah... sorry for all the inconvenience, but at least they're taking responsibility and working hard to fix this issue 
, anyway, fingers crossed that everything gets back on track by friday evening 
This Thanksgiving holiday weekend is already shaping up to be a total nightmare for air travelers... or at least, it could be if the Airbus software issue isn't resolved ASAP! 100 feet drop in 7 seconds? No thanks! 
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At least Airbus is taking responsibility and offering support to airlines. Fingers crossed everything gets sorted out in time for the weekend. 
. and yeah, i get that airlines r trying to rush the update but what's a few extra days when ur flying to NYC from LA