Airbus orders software updates for 6,000 planes after solar radiation risk identified

Airbus has issued a directive for software updates on 6,000 of its aircraft, roughly half of its global fleet, due to a risk posed by intense solar radiation. The problem emerged following a JetBlue flight from Cancun to Newark on October 30, where a sudden, uncommanded drop in altitude injured 15 passengers and forced an emergency landing in Tampa. Investigations revealed that solar radiation could cause ‘bit flips’ in the plane’s flight control computers, potentially corrupting critical data in the Elevator and Aileron Computer (ELAC) system, which manages the aircraft’s pitch. While the likelihood of such events is very low, authorities have mandated preventive action. The software fix generally takes two to three hours, although some aircraft may require hardware replacement to implement the update. Airlines including easyJet and Wizz Air have temporarily grounded planes to apply the changes, potentially causing travel disruptions. Experts emphasize that aviation remains extremely safe, and the proactive update highlights the industry’s commitment to addressing even rare threats.