A global software recall for Airbus A320 jets due to a flaw is unlikely to cause major flight delays or cancellations in South Korea. The transport ministry says updates take less than an hour and most affected aircraft have already been fixed. The government is monitoring compliance in real time with safety as the top priority.
Airbus issued a large-scale software recall for its A320 family of jets on Friday after identifying a flaw that could cause serious flight-safety issues, including unintended rapid descent. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) responded with an emergency directive requiring immediate software replacement or modification for affected aircraft before they resume operations, with a global deadline of 8:59 a.m. on Nov. 30 for all A320 and A321 ELAC systems.
The directive stems from an investigation into a sudden-descent incident on a JetBlue Airways A320 flight from Mexico to the United States on Oct. 30, where intense solar radiation interfered with the aircraft's elevator aileron computer (ELAC) flight-control program. Airbus apologized for the inconvenience to passengers and emphasized safety as its "number one and overriding priority," while working closely with operators.
In South Korea, five airlines—Korean Air Co., Asiana Airlines Inc., Air Busan Co., Air Seoul Inc., and Aero K Airlines Co.—operate a total of 80 A320-family jets, with 42 subject to the recall, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. As of 6 p.m. on Saturday, 40 had received the update, which takes less than an hour per aircraft, and the remaining two are scheduled for completion before midnight.
An Asiana Airlines official noted that 17 of its 24 A320-series jets need the fix but all can be done during regular ground time with "no impact on the flight schedule." The ministry is monitoring each airline's compliance in real time under a 'safety first' principle and will act immediately if significant delays or disruptions occur. The measure is not expected to affect domestic flight operations.