Airbus A320 recall due to flight control issue
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Airbus A320 recall due to flight control issue
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28th November 2025, 18:37
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A lot better handled than MCAS......
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From: YUL
I cannot post a link yet with my low post count, but here is what the AOT Airbus has published:Toulouse, France, 28 November 2025 – Analysis of a recent event involving an A320 Family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls.
Airbus has consequently identified a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in-service which may be impacted.
Airbus has worked proactively with the aviation authorities to request immediate precautionary action from operators via an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) in order to implement the available software and/or hardware protection, and ensure the fleet is safe to fly. This AOT will be reflected in an Emergency Airworthiness Directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Airbus acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will work closely with operators, while keeping safety as our number one and overriding priority.
Airbus has consequently identified a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in-service which may be impacted.
Airbus has worked proactively with the aviation authorities to request immediate precautionary action from operators via an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) in order to implement the available software and/or hardware protection, and ensure the fleet is safe to fly. This AOT will be reflected in an Emergency Airworthiness Directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Airbus acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will work closely with operators, while keeping safety as our number one and overriding priority.
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From: Europe
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The post from AirBus
A320 Family precautionary fleet action | Airbus
A320 Family precautionary fleet action | Airbus
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From: Scotland
Technically it’s a software downgrade, ELAC L104 is standard on most NEOs afaik and is the Safety Beyond Standard upgrade so any aircraft with the upgrade will be affected.
Laudable action from Airbus imo to take immediate decisive action to address the risk.
Laudable action from Airbus imo to take immediate decisive action to address the risk.
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From: Canada
The following story tells us more re Software issues and Hardware issues. Airbus flights could be cancelled due to solar radiation this weekend
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From: Reading, UK
The event that resulted in the EAD: At least 15 people sent to hospital after JetBlue flight drops altitude
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From: Somewhere at the Milky Way
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From: 3rd Rock, #29B
It's in the same family as Kev's big day out with QFA072 for sure. The potential for a bit flip with cosmic radiation increases with the later versions of the memory and CPUs we are using. Hardening the ELACs CPUs is a tough option compared to using simpler software that spends more time verifying momentary states.
Popcorn anyone.
(Kev was an F-14 driver, and yet it was the wild ride with the walk on freight in the back that really concerned him)
Popcorn anyone.
(Kev was an F-14 driver, and yet it was the wild ride with the walk on freight in the back that really concerned him)
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From: Canada
AAL statement re their exposure
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/tops...e884084a&ei=36
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/tops...e884084a&ei=36
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From: UK
It is the lead BBC story:
Flight disruption warning as Airbus requests modifications to 6,000 planes
Not a good weekend to be an engineer!
Flight disruption warning as Airbus requests modifications to 6,000 planes
Airbus says that flights will be disrupted after it requested immediate modifications to thousands of its planes. The plane manufacturer says it has found that intense radiation from the Sun could corrupt data crucial to flight controls. About 6,000 planes are thought to be affected, which is around half of the company’s global fleet. It’s thought most will be able to undergo a simple software update.The issue was discovered after a JetBlue aircraft en-route from Mexico to the United States in October experienced a ‘sudden drop in altitude’.
The plane made an emergency landing, with reports at the time suggesting 15 to 20 people suffered minor injuries.
It’s thought the incident was caused by intense solar radiation, which corrupted data in a computer used to help control the aircraft.
Now action is being taken to prevent further problems. About 6,000 aircraft worldwide are thought to be affected, all of them of the A320 family, which also includes the A319 and A321 models.
According to Airbus, the majority can be fixed with a relatively simple software update. However, some 900 older planes will need replacement computers, and will have to be taken out of service until they can be fixed.
The plane made an emergency landing, with reports at the time suggesting 15 to 20 people suffered minor injuries.
It’s thought the incident was caused by intense solar radiation, which corrupted data in a computer used to help control the aircraft.
Now action is being taken to prevent further problems. About 6,000 aircraft worldwide are thought to be affected, all of them of the A320 family, which also includes the A319 and A321 models.
According to Airbus, the majority can be fixed with a relatively simple software update. However, some 900 older planes will need replacement computers, and will have to be taken out of service until they can be fixed.
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From: Somewhere at the Milky Way
So basically it is that in a corner case with some ELAC and LRU, solar flare can change the bytes and affect the LAF and command a dive. Disruption can last at least 2 weeks.
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From: UK
It is the lead BBC story:
Flight disruption warning as Airbus requests modifications to 6,000 planes
Not a good weekend to be an engineer!
Flight disruption warning as Airbus requests modifications to 6,000 planes
Not a good weekend to be an engineer!
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From: https://youtube.com/watch?v=P8pihdksUHk&si=t_GX3ubmBvZ2CDgB
Not surprised. I raised this subject a while ago. Not a response.
Just proves these computer control things are not shielded, against these external forces.
One EMP detonation, will bring the lot down. Within pulse range.
If I ever fly again, I wont be strapping my backside too one of these computer controlled kites, that's for sure.
Just proves these computer control things are not shielded, against these external forces.
One EMP detonation, will bring the lot down. Within pulse range.
If I ever fly again, I wont be strapping my backside too one of these computer controlled kites, that's for sure.
Last edited by RichardJones; 28th November 2025 at 21:49.