Indian airlines IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express successfully reverted flight-control software on 323 Airbus A320 jets to a safer 2022 version. This rapid rollback averted widespread groundings after Airbus identified a potential loss of control issue during intense solar storms. Carriers experienced minimal disruption, with only minor cancellations and delays. (Source: Airbus) NEW DELHI: Software rolled back, solar-storm threat neutralised. Indian operators of Airbus A320 jets – IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express – finished reverting flight-control computers to a safer 2022 version in just over a day, heading off widespread groundings feared after the manufacturer raised red flags late Friday.DGCA was informed early Sunday that 323 aircraft had received the required “downgrade” to an earlier edition of the elevator and aileron computer (ELAC). Airbus had found that a later software upgrade could trigger sudden loss of control during intense solar storms – a failure linked to a US carrier’s A320 that plunged abruptly on Oct 30, injuring 15 passengers.IndiGo completed the task across all 200 affected aircraft. Air India carried out the fix on 100 – nine jets were later assessed as not needing the rollback and four were already in base maintenance. AI Express finished updates on 23 of 25, with two under redelivery maintenance.Carriers escaped major disruption – only single-digit cancellations and delays of up to 90 minutes – thanks to IndiGo’s young A320 fleet and the AI Group’s limited number of older airframes. Older aircraft require hardware modifications alongside the software rollback, expanding task time.Globally, fallout was heavier. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury apologised for the turmoil but insisted urgency was essential. “The fix required on some A320 aircraft has been causing significant logistical challenges and delays… But we consider that nothing is more important than safety,” he wrote on X, adding that Airbus teams were working “around the clock” to help airlines get aircraft flying again.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAjeya Warrior-25 Wraps Up As India-UK Forces Boost Counter-Terror SynergyAt Least 11 Dead, 20 Injured in Head-On Collision Between Two Govt Buses in Tamil Nadu’s SivagangaUncertainty Over Pakistan’s Top Military Post Could Trigger Conflict: AnalystPak Handler Shahzad Bhatti Directed Gurdaspur Grenade Attack: Special Cell‘Stay Mentally Prepared’: Rajnath Singh’s Remark Fuels Talk Of Another Operation Sindoor‘4,000 Soldier Deaths, 20,000 Injured’: Pak FM Ishaq Dar Blames Taliban For Troop LossesAirbus A320 Glitch: Ex-IAF Pilot Shows How ELAC 2 Fails In Real-Time Flight Simulation‘Can’t Make Someone Disappear’: Shashi Tharoor Calls Out Pakistan Over Imran Khan’s Death RumoursPolitics Increasingly ‘Trumps’ Economics: EAM Jaishankar’s Veiled Swipe At US Amid Trade Tensions4 Dead, 1 Injured As Fire Engulfs Four-Storey Building In South Delhi123PhotostoriesPriyanka Chopra’s roles that celebrate grit identity and constant reinventionPregnant Bharti Singh stuns in a gorgeous maternity photoshoot, flaunting her baby bump; see pics7 banana breakfast dishes from around the world9 traditional Kheer variants to keep you warm this winterChef Sanjeev Kapoor shares 7 common mistakes people commit while making dosa and how to rectify them5 easy and effective ways to save more time daily4 infused water remedies for everyday health issues and how to make them at homeHow this rare island reptile became the world’s biggest lizard and a powerful hunterExclusive – Diya Aur Baati Hum fame Vindhya Tiwari drops dreamy wedding photos with Ashish Lohra; says ‘Chose Nov 25 to match Lord Ram and Sita ji’s wedding day’How to make Dahi ke Kebab for evening snacking123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayCyclone DitwahWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingGiannis AntetokounmpoBo BichetteED SheeranMLB Trade RumorsStefon diggsSouth Delhi SuicideBike Driver Account Udaipur EDAyesha CurryFuzzy ZoellerJammie Booker
NEW DELHI: Software rolled back, solar-storm threat neutralised. Indian operators of Airbus A320 jets – IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express – finished reverting flight-control computers to a safer 2022 version in just over a day, heading off widespread groundings feared after the manufacturer raised red flags late Friday.DGCA was informed early Sunday that 323 aircraft had received the required “downgrade” to an earlier edition of the elevator and aileron computer (ELAC). Airbus had found that a later software upgrade could trigger sudden loss of control during intense solar storms – a failure linked to a US carrier’s A320 that plunged abruptly on Oct 30, injuring 15 passengers.IndiGo completed the task across all 200 affected aircraft. Air India carried out the fix on 100 – nine jets were later assessed as not needing the rollback and four were already in base maintenance. AI Express finished updates on 23 of 25, with two under redelivery maintenance.Carriers escaped major disruption – only single-digit cancellations and delays of up to 90 minutes – thanks to IndiGo’s young A320 fleet and the AI Group’s limited number of older airframes. Older aircraft require hardware modifications alongside the software rollback, expanding task time.Globally, fallout was heavier. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury apologised for the turmoil but insisted urgency was essential. “The fix required on some A320 aircraft has been causing significant logistical challenges and delays… But we consider that nothing is more important than safety,” he wrote on X, adding that Airbus teams were working “around the clock” to help airlines get aircraft flying again.
