Airbus has identified a software flaw in its A320 planes that can be affected by intense solar radiation, prompting the recall of about 6000 aircraft worldwide. An incident on October 30 involving a JetBlue flight led to sudden altitude loss and injuries to at least 15 people. The measures are expected to cause flight disruptions for several major airlines.
Airbus announced on the evening of November 28, 2025, that a software flaw in A320 aircraft requires immediate action. The issue, which can arise from intense solar radiation affecting the planes' control systems, was discovered following an incident on October 30. A JetBlue Airways flight from New Jersey to Tampa Bay suddenly lost altitude, injuring at least 15 people and forcing an emergency landing.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive applicable to all global operators. Approximately 6000 planes are affected, representing half of Airbus's A320 fleet. For about two-thirds of the aircraft, it means a short-term flight ban while reverting to an older software version. Around 1000 planes, however, require hardware replacement, potentially grounding them for several weeks.
Several airlines are impacted. Air France is canceling 35 flights, while Delta, Air India, American Airlines, EasyJet, Lufthansa, and Wizz Air warn of disruptions. SAS, operating up to 90 A320s, is fully complying with the directive and stresses safety as the top priority: “The safety of our passengers and colleagues is always our highest priority. SAS is aware of the so-called Emergency Airworthiness Directive from EASA... We will provide updates as soon as we have more information.” Finnair is updating 12 planes and canceled flight AY1339 to London. Norwegian is unaffected.
Airbus states: “Airbus is aware that these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions for passengers and customers. We apologize for the inconvenience caused and will work closely with operators, with safety as our highest priority.”
