Airbus narrows software crisis as airlines ride out A320 recall
Summary
Airbus has expedited software updates to address a solar flare vulnerability in the A320 fleet following a mid-air incident, leading to a large-scale retrofit and partial grounding of about 6,000 jets globally.
Key Points
- Airbus issued an 8-page alert ordering an emergency software retrofit for about half the A320 fleet following a mid-air incident linked to a software vulnerability.
- The retrofit process was completed faster than expected by many airlines, though some continue to face delays due to hardware constraints.
- This recall marks Airbus's broadest emergency safety action, prompted by concerns following Boeing's 737 MAX crisis, reflecting a shift towards greater transparency.
- Airlines like JetBlue and Flyadeal are actively working to resume normal flight operations while some older jets require additional hardware replacements beyond software updates.
