Additional Coverage:
- Airbus issues a recall that will impact hundreds of US planes, including those from American Airlines and Delta (businessinsider.com)
Solar Flares Spark Airbus Recall, Threatening Holiday Travel for Hundreds of US Flights
Widespread A320 Jet Recall Due to Data Corruption Risks; American and Delta Among Airlines Affected
Airbus has issued a significant recall for a number of its A320 family jets, citing a potential data corruption issue caused by “intense solar radiation.” This recall, announced Friday, is set to impact hundreds of aircraft across the United States, including those operated by major carriers like American Airlines and Delta.
The European planemaker’s statement revealed that solar flares could “corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls,” necessitating immediate software updates for a “significant number of A320 Family aircraft.” Airbus acknowledged that these recommendations are likely to cause “operational disruptions to passengers and customers.”
A spokesperson for Airbus clarified that the problem is linked to a “specific software version carried by A320 Family aircraft, some of which are operating in the US.” Aviation analytics firm Cirium reports that over 1,600 A320 Family aircraft are currently in service in the US, with JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit, and United also utilizing these models in addition to American and Delta.
American Airlines initially identified over 340 affected aircraft but later updated that number to 209. As of Friday evening, the airline expected to complete updates on the “overwhelming majority” of these planes by Saturday morning, with only a handful remaining. The update process is estimated to take approximately two hours per aircraft.
Delta Air Lines anticipates a smaller impact, affecting fewer than 50 of its A321neo aircraft. The airline plans to complete the necessary work by Saturday morning through “already planned aircraft maintenance touchpoints.”
Frontier has confirmed receipt of the Airbus notice and is currently evaluating the situation. United Airlines stated it has not been affected by the recall, while JetBlue and Spirit have yet to comment.
This recall comes at a particularly inconvenient time, coinciding with one of the busiest holiday travel weekends of the year, with the Sunday after Thanksgiving typically seeing peak air travel. The potential for additional downtime for aircraft could further complicate schedules already strained by a difficult period for airlines and travelers, including flight disruptions stemming from the government shutdown that ended in mid-November.