UPDATE: A critical software issue identified by Airbus is set to disrupt thousands of flights this weekend, impacting passengers from British Airways, easyJet, and Wizz Air. The manufacturer confirmed that the problem affects a “significant number” of its A320 aircraft, with up to 6,000 planes requiring urgent software upgrades.
This alarming development follows an incident on October 30, when a JetBlue flight from Cancún, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, experienced a dangerous loss of altitude, injuring several passengers. Airbus stated that intense solar radiation could corrupt vital data necessary for flight controls, prompting the need for immediate action.
Both easyJet and Wizz Air have warned that travelers may encounter delays or cancellations this weekend as they work to implement the necessary software changes. British Airways, whose short-haul flights predominantly utilize Airbus A320 aircraft, reported that only three of its planes are currently affected. The airline anticipates that software updates will be completed within hours, minimizing disruption to scheduled flights.
Airbus indicated that the software update process would take between two to three hours for most aircraft. However, certain planes may require additional hardware modifications, potentially extending their downtime. The broader impact of this issue includes A319 and A321 models, which are also believed to be susceptible to the same software flaw.
The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed it is preparing for possible flight cancellations and disruptions as airlines scramble to address the issue. The A320 family is recognized as the world’s most popular short-haul aircraft, recently surpassing Boeing’s 737 in total deliveries.
As this situation unfolds, passengers are urged to check flight statuses and stay informed. Authorities are closely monitoring developments, and further updates are expected as airlines respond to this urgent challenge.
This is a breaking news story and is being updated continuously. Stay tuned for the latest developments.
