IndiGo, Air India Clarify No Flight Cancellations Due to Airbus A320 Software Update — DGCA Flags Risks | What We Know

Following an urgent safety directive regarding a potential flight-control issue in Airbus A320 family aircraft, both IndiGo and Air India have stated that they have not canceled any flights due to the mandatory software updates. However, minor delays and rescheduling are possible as the airlines work to implement the required modifications.

The Issue

Airbus issued a technical advisory concerning a potential issue where intense solar radiation could corrupt data critical to flight control systems in a significant number of A320 family aircraft. This prompted the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to issue an Emergency Airworthiness Directive, mandating that airlines worldwide perform software or hardware updates on affected aircraft. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India followed suit, issuing a "most urgent" mandatory modification order to Indian operators of A320 family aircraft.

The issue came to light after a JetBlue A320 flight experienced an unexpected pitch-down incident on October 30, 2025, while flying from Cancun to Newark. Investigations revealed that the Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC), a critical component of the flight control system, could be vulnerable to excessive solar radiation during system switching, potentially affecting aircraft stability.

Impact on Airlines

Globally, approximately 6,000 Airbus A320 family aircraft are affected by this issue. In India, 338 A320 family aircraft operated by IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express require the software upgrade.

IndiGo has a fleet of 195 A320s, comprising A320 CEO and NEO models. Of these, 200 aircraft require the software update. The airline stated that it has completed the required inspections and updates on 160 of its affected aircraft and is working to complete the remaining updates within the stipulated timeline.

Air India has 113 aircraft affected by the directive. The airline reported that it has completed software and hardware updates on over 40% of its affected A320 family aircraft and is working "round-the-clock" to cover the entire fleet within the prescribed timeline.

Air India Express has 25 of its A320 family jets affected. The airline has initiated immediate action, but cautioned that the global guidance may lead to delays or cancellations.

DGCA's Response

The DGCA has taken immediate action, drawing up an action plan with Indian carriers to complete the required upgrades within the stipulated time. The aviation watchdog barred airlines from operating Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft until the mandated modifications are carried out. According to DGCA data, more than half of the affected fleet in India had been modified by the morning of November 29, 2025. The software upgrades on all affected planes are to be completed by November 30.

Passenger Impact

While both IndiGo and Air India have confirmed that there have been no flight cancellations due to this issue, passengers are advised to check their flight status for potential delays. Sources indicate that some flights are experiencing delays of 60-90 minutes while updates are being carried out. IndiGo has also stated that some flights may experience slight schedule changes. Air India has said that some of its flights may be slightly delayed or rescheduled, and their ground staff are available to assist passengers.

Aviation experts estimate that software updates take 2-3 hours for newer models, while older jets may require hardware updates potentially increasing downtime.