Airbus is recalling approximately 6,000 A320 family aircraft for immediate repairs, prompting Indian airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, to issue advisories to passengers regarding potential flight delays and schedule adjustments. The recall, one of the largest in Airbus's history, affects more than half of the global A320 fleet and stems from a potential flight control vulnerability linked to intense solar radiation.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive mandating that operators of A320-family aircraft implement software modifications to mitigate the risk of uncommanded flight control inputs. The directive, effective November 29, 2025, requires airlines to ensure their aircraft have serviceable elevator aileron computers (ELACs) before further flights. Other regulators, including the FAA, are expected to adopt EASA's mandate.
Airbus's analysis of a recent event involving an A320 family aircraft revealed that intense solar radiation might corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls. The manufacturer has proactively worked with aviation authorities to request immediate precautionary action from operators to implement available software and/or hardware protection to ensure the fleet is safe to fly.
The issue is expected to cause flight disruptions, given the ubiquity of A320s in service and the scale of the affected fleet. The recall affects A320s and the newer A320neo variants, including A319s and A321s in each case. While most ELACs can be fixed by reverting to a previous version of recently updated software, approximately 1,000 of the oldest affected aircraft will require a hardware change to accept the new software. This hardware re-installation process will take longer, potentially leading to extended groundings.
The recall was triggered by an incident on October 30 involving a JetBlue A320 en route to Newark from Cancun. The aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude while in cruise, prompting an investigation that revealed the vulnerability to solar radiation. The autopilot corrected the trajectory.
Airbus has acknowledged that the directive will lead to operational disruptions for customers and airline passengers. The company has apologized for the inconvenience caused and is working closely with operators, keeping safety as its number one priority.
American Airlines, a major A320 operator, stated that about 340 of its 480 A320-family aircraft are affected and expects to have the vast majority of fixes completed quickly. Delta Air Lines reported that fewer than 50 A321neo aircraft in its fleet are affected and anticipates all updates to be completed soon. United Airlines stated that six aircraft in its fleet are affected and expects minor disruption to a few flights.
Indian airlines IndiGo and Air India have issued advisories to passengers, warning of potential delays and longer turnaround times. Both airlines have urged passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport and to contact their respective customer service centers for assistance. IndiGo stated that it is proactively completing the mandated updates on its aircraft with full diligence and care, in line with all safety protocols. Air India stated that the software/hardware realignment would lead to longer turnaround times and delays to scheduled operations.
The A320 family is the most flown commercial aircraft globally, with over 11,300 A320neo family aircraft ordered by more than 130 customers as of October 2025. The global A320neo fleet has completed more than 7.35 million flights over 14.67 million block hours. The A320 family includes A319, A320, and A321 models.
