November 28, 2025, 9:29 p.mNovember 28, 2025, 10:55 p.m
An EasyJet A320-214 at Geneva Airport. (symbol image)Image: keystone
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has raised the alarm over a recent incident involving an A320 family aircraft. “Intense sunlight” could corrupt essential data in the programming of the aircraft controls, which is why it is now imperative to carry out a software update for this type of aircraft.
In collaboration with air traffic control authorities, Airbus has instructed all airlines using A320, A318, A319 and A321 aircraft to immediately make the necessary software updates and hardware adjustments to ensure safety while flying.
I consider this fully confirmed at this point. ELAC, software update needed.
Should take a few hours for each plane, will take longer on some than others. Plan with FAA being worked on now. https://t.co/v8fEgne6wv
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) November 28, 2025
According to the aviation platform Airlive Around 6,000 aircraft worldwide could be affected. Airbus is aware that this update could lead to delays in air traffic: “We apologize for the inconvenience and will become the operator [unserer Flugzeuge] fully support.” The safety of passengers remains the highest priority, the company continued.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has one on Friday evening urgent airworthiness directive (Emergency Airworthiness Directive; EAD) and also specifically referred to the measures to be taken.
The Colombian airline Avianca has in the evening communicatedthat 70 percent of their fleet was affected, which is why flight operations were temporarily suspended. Ticket sales will be suspended until December 8th. AirFrance has already grounded 41 aircraft; American Airlines 30.
According to figures from the SWISS website, 30 of the 90 aircraft are from the A320 family. It is unclear whether all of these are affected; SWISS has provided information about the measures on its website, but this cannot be accessed. The Swiss airline was unable to provide any timely information by telephone.
At the end of October, a JetBlue A320 tilted downwards during the flight from Cancun (Mexico) to Newark (USA) for reasons that were inexplicable at the time, without any contribution from the pilot. 15 people were injured and the flight had to be diverted to Tampa. Investigations have now shown that the sunlight had damaged the flight control computer.
(cpf)