Airbus Recall Highlights Space Weather Risk in Aviation

Airbus recalled half of its global fleet after a sudden altitude drop in an A320 aircraft linked to solar radiation damage. Experts question this conclusion, citing no significant solar event on the incident day. This case underscores the potential impact of space weather on aviation safety.

In a surprising move, aerospace titan Airbus has decided to recall nearly half of its global fleet following the sudden altitude drop of an A320 aircraft. The incident, which occurred during a Mexico-US flight, has been attributed by Airbus to a powerful solar flare that allegedly disrupted flight software.

However, experts remain unconvinced, questioning Airbus's analysis due to a lack of evidence for significant solar activity on the day in question. Space weather specialists argue that intense cosmic radiation might cause data corruption but found no major solar events impacting flights on that date.

This recall marks a pivotal moment in aviation, underlining the critical need to consider space weather as a factor in aviation safety. It sets a precedent that could lead to increased scrutiny of solar activity's impact on critical infrastructure, such as flight and satellite systems.

(With inputs from agencies.)