Airbus updates planes after solar radiation warning, flights resume

Thousands of Airbus planes, primarily from the A320 family, have been returning to normal service following a temporary grounding due to a software issue affected by solar radiation. Airbus reported that about 6,000 planes were impacted, with most able to receive a quick software update, while approximately 900 older aircraft require a full computer replacement. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed that updates were completed smoothly for more than 5,000 planes, leaving fewer than 100 still pending. Airlines worldwide have faced varying degrees of disruption. In Europe, Air France experienced delays and cancellations at Charles de Gaulle Airport, while UK airports reported minimal impact, with Heathrow unaffected and Gatwick seeing only minor disruption. Airlines including British Airways, Air India, EasyJet, and Wizz Air have largely completed updates and resumed normal operations. In the United States, American Airlines and Delta reported manageable delays. In Australia, Jetstar canceled 90 flights, and Air New Zealand temporarily grounded its A320 fleet until updates were complete. The issue was discovered after a JetBlue flight lost altitude and made an emergency landing in October, resulting in injuries to 15 people. Airbus identified that at high altitudes, solar radiation could corrupt flight control computer data, affecting aircraft elevation calculations. Software updates resolved most cases, but planes needing computer replacements remain grounded until the parts are available.