Airbus has issued an urgent alert to airlines worldwide after discovering that solar radiation could corrupt critical flight-control data on around 6,000 A320-family aircraft currently in service. The issue affects the aircraft’s Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC), which controls pitch and sends pilot inputs to the elevators.
The software fix requires airlines to revert to a previous stable version and, in some cases, install new hardware. The directive has triggered a global round of inspections to safeguard flight operations.
Indian Airlines: 250 Aircraft Under Checks
India’s largest A320 operators—IndiGo and Air India—are inspecting between 200 and 250 aircraft. Both carriers confirmed there have been no cancellations, though short delays are likely as turnaround times increase.
IndiGo said 200 aircraft were identified for checks, and 160 had already been updated by early afternoon, ensuring minimal disruptions. Air India also confirmed that 40% of its affected fleet has been cleared with updates completed.
Air India Express, which operates Boeing aircraft, reported minimal impact but warned that global airspace delays could ripple into its operations. Akasa Air and SpiceJet remain unaffected as they do not operate Airbus fleets.
DGCA Bans Unchecked Airbus Models
Acting swiftly, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a directive covering 338 Airbus jets across Indian carriers. About 56% have already been upgraded. The order lists dozens of A319, A320 and A321 variants that must complete ELAC software or hardware modifications to be declared airworthy.
The DGCA has set a compliance deadline of 5:30 am on November 30, after which non-compliant aircraft must remain grounded.
Is Passenger Safety at Risk?
Experts say the proactive detection and rapid response mean passengers do not need to worry. The issue has not caused accidents in India, and regulators are ensuring all aircraft undergo mandatory checks before flying.
Delays may continue until updates are fully completed, but safety remains uncompromised—and India’s airlines appear on track to meet the deadline.
