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Software Glitch Grounds Global Flights
29 Nov
Summary
- Software update issue caused temporary flight disruptions globally.
- Solar radiation may corrupt critical flight control data.
- Over 500 U.S. aircraft and numerous international flights impacted.
Aviation worldwide experienced short-term disruptions as airlines implemented a critical software update for the widely used A320 commercial aircraft family. An analysis following a JetBlue incident indicated intense solar radiation could corrupt flight control data, prompting an FAA and EASA-mandated fix. This required software update impacted over 500 U.S.-registered aircraft, with airlines like All Nippon Airways in Japan canceling dozens of domestic flights.
During one of the busiest U.S. travel periods, airlines focused on limiting cancellations, with American Airlines expecting only a few. Other carriers, including Air India, Delta, and United, reported varying degrees of impact, from minor delays to minimal disruption. European countries like France and the U.K. saw stabilized situations, with French airports reporting an almost complete return to normal.
Experts noted the inconvenience of the issue occurring on a busy holiday weekend but highlighted that the software fix itself was relatively quick, often addressable between flights or during overnight checks. The A320 family, a top-selling aircraft, faced this challenge, with the software change originating from a recent update to the plane's onboard computers.
