Airbus Nears Completion of A320 Software Fix After Glitch Caused Disruptions
Airbus has nearly completed software updates on its A320 passenger jets to fix a glitch caused by solar radiation, which led to minor disruptions and a suspected JetBlue incident.
Overview
Airbus has updated the majority of its A320 passenger jets to resolve a critical software glitch, with fewer than 100 aircraft still awaiting the necessary fix.
The software issue was caused by intense solar radiation corrupting vital flight control data, prompting urgent action from the aircraft manufacturer.
This glitch is suspected to have caused a JetBlue plane's sudden altitude drop, resulting in injuries to passengers during the incident.
Airlines globally experienced minor operational disruptions as they worked to implement the software updates across their A320 fleets.
The near-completion of these updates aims to prevent further travel disruptions and ensure the continued safety of the A320 aircraft in service.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally, focusing on factual reporting of a technical issue and its resolution. They prioritize conveying information about the software fix, the scope of the problem, and the regulatory response without employing loaded language or sensationalism. The coverage balances initial concerns with ongoing safety efforts.
Sources (3)
FAQ
The software glitch was caused by intense solar radiation, which led to data corruption in critical flight control systems, specifically affecting the ELAC 2 computer that controls elevators and ailerons.
The glitch caused uncommanded aircraft movements, such as sudden nose dives, and is suspected to have led to a JetBlue incident involving a sudden altitude drop and passenger injuries.
Airbus issued an Alert Operators Transmission and worked with aviation authorities to implement emergency software and, in some cases, hardware updates to protect against data corruption from solar radiation.
The issue affected over 6,000 A320 family aircraft worldwide, leading to minor operational disruptions for airlines and some travel inconveniences for passengers as updates were rolled out.
In most cases, a software update is sufficient, but some aircraft may require hardware upgrades to ensure flight control systems are fully protected against solar radiation effects.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.