Travellers face disruption after Airbus issues A320 recall
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The news: Europe’s Airbus said on Friday that it was ordering an immediate software change on a “significant number” of its A320 family of jets that are currently in service.
The numbers: Industry sources told Reuters that the recall would involve up to 6,000 jets, over half of the global fleet.
The context: A statement released by the plane maker said that a recent incident involving an A320 Family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls. It consequently identified a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in-service which may be impacted.
“Airbus acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers,” the company said.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency will issue an emergency airworthiness directive, Airbus said.
Sources told Reuters that the recall will result in a relatively brief grounding as airlines revert to a previous software version for around two-thirds of the affected jets. But the recall is set to significantly disrupt travel as the US heads into its busiest weekend of the year.
The incident that prompted the recall involved a JetBlue flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, in October, sources told Reuters. The flight made an emergency landing at Tampa, Florida, and several people were taken to hospital after a flight control problem and a sudden uncommanded drop in altitude.
