Travellers around the world may face delays after Airbus issued an urgent recall for its A320 fleet because it found solar radiation may affect the control of the increasingly popular commercial aircraft.
Airlines from around the world said their flights could be delayed or cancelled by the European aircraft manufacturer’s decision to request immediate repairs to about 6,000 of the aircraft.
“Analysis of a recent event involving an A320 Family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls,” the European aircraft manufacturer said in a press release.
Airbus asked aviation authorities to request “immediate precautionary action” from operators via an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) to implement software and/or hardware protection and ensure the fleet was safe to fly.
“Airbus acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers,” it said.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on Sunday said airlines would have to change software or ground the planes until the changes were made.
“Passengers should check with their airline whether their flights are affected,” UK Civil Aviation Authority Director of Aviation Safety Giancarlo Buono said in a news release.
The recall, which could be one of the largest in Airbus’ 55-year history, followed an investigation into an incident on 30 October when passengers on a JetBlue flight from Cancun in Mexico to New Jersey in the United States were injured when the aircraft experienced a sudden uncontrolled drop in altitude and made an emergency landing.
Launched in 1984, the A320 was the first mainstream jetliner to introduce "fly-by-wire" computer controls.
Airbus shares (EPA: AIR) closed 0.30 Euros (0.15%) higher at 204.45 Euros on Friday, capitalising the company at 155.45 billion Euros (US$180.32 billion).
