Paris, France — November 28, 2025 (Agencies) — Airbus has announced one of the largest recalls in its history, directing airlines worldwide to immediately repair 6,000 A320-family aircraft after a critical flight control software glitch was linked to solar radiation interference.
The issue came to light following an incident in October involving a JetBlue A320, which experienced an uncommanded pitch-down while on autopilot. Investigations revealed that intense solar radiation could corrupt flight control computer data, posing a serious safety risk.
Airbus issued an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) requiring airlines to apply a software fix before the aircraft can resume normal operations. The directive affects the A318, A319, A320, and A321 models, which together form the backbone of short- and medium-haul aviation worldwide.
The recall has caused widespread disruption, with thousands of flights canceled or rescheduled. Airlines such as ANA Holdings in Japan have already grounded dozens of planes, while regulators including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are coordinating compliance measures.
Industry experts note that while the fix is technically straightforward, the scale of the recall—coinciding with one of the busiest travel weekends of the year—has created significant operational challenges.
Airbus emphasized that safety remains its top priority and reassured passengers that the corrective measures will restore full confidence in the A320 fleet.