Travelers heading home from Thanksgiving break could see delays this weekend as airlines race to patch a software vulnerability linked to intense solar radiation. Airbus and European safety regulators confirmed Friday that the issue, which affects the widely used A320 family of aircraft, contributed to a sudden altitude drop on a JetBlue flight last month that left 15 people injured.
An analysis of the October 30 incident revealed that solar radiation could corrupt data essential to the jet’s flight controls. In response, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued a directive requiring operators to apply a software fix immediately.
The timing presents a logistical hurdle during one of the busiest travel windows of the year. American Airlines identified 209 affected planes within its fleet—nearly half of its A320s.
READ: Somalia Airstrikes Surge Tenfold In 2025 As U.S. Forces Ramp Up Campaign Against ISIS
The carrier stated that while the update takes about two hours, the “overwhelming majority” of aircraft would be patched by Friday, with the remainder finished Saturday. American noted that while delays are possible, they are prioritizing safety and working to avoid outright cancellations.
Other major carriers are seeing lighter impacts. Delta Air Lines expects fewer than 50 of its A321neo aircraft to require the fix, while United Airlines identified only six affected planes. Hawaiian Airlines reported no impact to its fleet.
The urgency stems from the harrowing JetBlue flight from Cancun to Newark, which was forced to divert to Tampa after the uncommanded drop. Airbus, a primary competitor to Boeing, maintains that the A320 remains the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
