Air travel disrupted over Airbus A320 software switch | National News | manchestertimes.com
Travelers heading home after the holiday rush can breathe a sigh of relief. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has assured passengers that the massive Airbus recall — involving around 6,000 A320-family jets worldwide — is not expected to cause major disruptions.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Duffy explained that only a small number of U.S. aircraft need an emergency software fix right away. He added that airlines have been working closely with Airbus and the FAA to complete the updates as fast as possible.
According to Duffy, U.S. carriers “jumped into action,” and most of the required work should be wrapped up before the Sunday midnight deadline.
What Caused the Recall?
Airbus ordered immediate repairs after experts discovered that intense solar radiation could corrupt certain data essential for aircraft flight controls. This concern was raised after a JetBlue flight on October 30, traveling from Cancun to New Jersey, suddenly lost altitude and had to divert to Tampa, leaving several passengers injured.
To fix the issue, airlines are simply reverting to an earlier, stable version of the aircraft’s software. Each update takes about two hours per plane, and jets must complete the update before they are cleared to fly.
How Are U.S. Airlines Responding?
The recall affects major carriers like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.
- American Airlines says around 340 of its 480 A320-family planes need the software update. Most should be ready by Saturday. The airline expects some delays but is working hard to avoid cancellations.
- Delta Air Lines reports that fewer than 50 A321neo aircraft are affected. Delta also expects to finish all updates by Saturday morning and says the overall impact should be minimal.
Even though this is one of the largest recalls in Airbus history, it comes during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year — yet airlines say they remain committed to keeping passengers moving smoothly and safely.
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