Massive Airbus A320 Recall: Solar Flare Data Corruption Sparks Global Disruption

Airbus has issued a recall for 6,000 A320 jets worldwide due to potential data corruption from solar flares. This action threatens to disrupt global air travel, particularly during a busy travel weekend. Airlines are scrambling to complete repairs, which involve reverting to earlier software versions, to avoid delays.

Airbus has announced a substantial recall of 6,000 A320 aircraft due to issues with software potentially corrupted by solar flares, prompting concerns of widespread flight delays. This recall could disrupt travel plans globally, especially during a peak holiday period in the United States.

The recall requires airlines to revert affected aircraft to a previous software version, a relatively quick fix needing about two hours per plane, but it adds to existing industry strains from labor shortages and repair shop backlog. American Airlines, Europe's Lufthansa, and other major carriers have been implicated.

Triggered by a recent JetBlue incident involving an emergency descent, the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has already issued an emergency directive. While most repairs are software-based, over 1,000 jets may need hardware changes, adding further complexity. This recall marks one of Airbus's most significant challenges in its 55-year history.

(With inputs from agencies.)