Airbus orders urgent updates to A320 fleet after radiation-related flight control issue

Airbus has called for urgent modifications to around 6,000 of its aircraft after identifying that intense solar radiation could interfere with critical flight control systems. The issue primarily affects the A320 family, including the A318, A319, and A321 models. The problem was discovered following an incident on October 30 involving a JetBlue Airways A320 in the US, which made an emergency landing in Florida after a sudden altitude drop, resulting in at least 15 injuries. Most of the affected aircraft, approximately 5,100 planes, can be fixed with a software update. Older aircraft, however, require hardware modifications and will need to be temporarily removed from service. Airbus acknowledged potential operational disruptions and apologized for inconvenience to passengers and airlines. Wizz Air and Air India reported scheduling maintenance in response, while British Airways is less affected. EasyJet warned of possible delays, emphasizing passenger safety. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK noted that some flight disruptions and cancellations are likely and advised passengers to check with their airlines. The issue involves the ELAC computer, which manages elevators and ailerons on fly-by-wire aircraft, meaning pilot commands are executed by computers rather than mechanical linkages. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has also recommended precautionary action for affected aircraft. Airbus has urged airlines to implement software and hardware protections to ensure fleet safety.