European aerospace giant Airbus has warned that flights worldwide will be affected, after the company ordered immediate modifications to thousands of its planes.
The reason: it has been discovered that strong solar radiation can compromise critical data from flight control systems, creating a technical hazard that requires immediate response.
About 6,000 aircraft are affected — almost half of Airbus' global fleet. For most, the problem is being resolved with a software update, but the updates are expected to cause significant disruptions to operations.
British regulator: disruptions and cancellations expected
The UK Civil Aviation Authority warns that the process will result in "some flight disruptions and cancellations".
Airlines reporting disruptions:
• Wizz Air: warns passengers of delays and service disruptions over the weekend, due to urgent update.
• American Airlines: 340 aircraft affected; expects “some delays,” updates today–tomorrow.
• Delta Airlines: will follow Airbus guidance; expects “limited” impact.
• Air India: warns of “longer turnaround times and operational delays.”
• EasyJet and Air New Zealand also anticipate schedule disruptions.
Airbus emphasizes that the measures are preventive and there have been no incidents, but the updates are necessary to avoid any technical risks in the aircraft's systems.
