Flight operations in India and across the globe could face disruptions as several airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, and Air India Express, respond to a potential issue affecting the Airbus A320 family of aircraft. The advisory follows an incident earlier this month involving a JetBlue-operated A320 in the United States, where a sudden drop in altitude led to an emergency landing in Florida, injuring 15 passengers.

Airbus SE has issued a warning indicating that more than half of its active A320 jetliner fleet requires a software update to address a possible risk linked to flight controls. In India, operators collectively have around 560 aircraft in the A320 family, with sources reporting that over 200 planes will need software modifications or, in some cases, hardware adjustments. The affected fleet includes A319s, A320ceos and neos, and A321ceos and neos.

Impact on Flight Operations

The software update or hardware adjustment requires affected planes to be temporarily grounded. Airlines have proactively informed passengers about potential disruptions, including slight delays and schedule adjustments.

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, stated that it is coordinating closely with Airbus to implement the necessary fixes while minimizing disruption. “We are working closely with Airbus to ensure implementation as per Airbus notification. While we carry out the necessary inspections, we are making every effort to minimise disruptions,” the airline said.

Air India Express also confirmed that it has initiated precautionary actions in response to Airbus’s alert. “While a majority of our aircraft are not impacted, the guidance applies to operators worldwide and may result in adjustments to flight operations, including potential delays or cancellations,” the airline said.

Air India clarified that there have been no flight cancellations in India due to the ongoing software and hardware realignments. “Air India can confirm that there have been no cancellations due to this task and there isn’t any major impact on schedule integrity across our network. However, some of our flights may be slightly delayed or rescheduled. Our colleagues on ground are there to assist the passengers,” it added.

Airbus Advisory

Airbus SE explained that intense solar radiation could cause corruption of data critical for flight control operations. Following the JetBlue incident, the company recommended a mandatory software update for more than 6,500 A320 family jets worldwide. According to Airbus, the upgrade must be implemented before an aircraft’s next scheduled flight.

The A320 family competes directly with Boeing’s 737 series and represents a significant portion of civil aviation fleets globally. Airlines operating these aircraft are required to comply with the update to maintain airworthiness and ensure passenger safety.

DGCA Directives

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India has issued a formal directive to all operators of Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aircraft. The notification mandates that flights must not be operated unless the aircraft have undergone the required software or hardware modification in compliance with the Airworthiness Directive and the Master Mandatory Modification List.

The DGCA emphasized that all operators must confirm compliance with the procedures outlined in the Airworthiness Procedure Manual, Section II, Chapter 7, before operating flights. The directive aims to ensure that no aircraft affected by the potential glitch is operated without completing the necessary modifications.

Conclusion

While the ongoing software update and adjustments are precautionary, airlines are taking steps to minimize inconvenience to passengers. Travelers on A320 family aircraft may experience slight delays or schedule changes in the coming weeks as airlines implement the required updates. Safety remains the top priority, and compliance with both Airbus guidance and DGCA directives is mandatory for continued operation.