Airbus A320 Fleet Grounded for Software Fix After Solar Radiation Vulnerability

December 1, 2025 at 12:34 AM•2 min read

Airbus A320 series aircraft faced emergency grounding worldwide, including eight Macau round-trip flights, for a critical software update addressing

Key Points

1Airbus mandated an emergency grounding for A320 series aircraft due to flight control software vulnerability to intense solar radiation, affecting global operations.
2Eight round-trip flights in Macau experienced average two-hour delays on Saturday, with 12 affected aircraft completing software upgrades by 8:30 p.m.
3The US FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) required the software fix, impacting over 500 US-registered aircraft worldwide.
4Passenger notification issues in Macau led to confusion and difficulties in addressing inquiries about the flight delays.

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced an emergency grounding for a significant number of its A320 series aircraft following the discovery of a critical flight control software vulnerability. The issue stems from the software's susceptibility to intense solar radiation, which was identified after an incident involving an A320-series aircraft, reportedly a JetBlue plane, experienced a sudden drop in altitude last month. Airbus has since coordinated with global aviation authorities, including the US FAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), to mandate immediate preventive measures and a software update for the affected fleet.

Globally, airlines canceled and delayed flights to implement the necessary software fix, impacting over 500 US-registered aircraft alone. In Macau, eight round-trip flights were affected on Saturday, resulting in average delays of approximately two hours. Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM) reported that A320-type flights constitute about 60% of its total flight volume, with airlines operating this aircraft type representing 40% of total operations. By 8:30 p.m. that evening, all 12 affected aircraft at Macau International Airport had successfully completed the mandatory software upgrade, allowing normal flight operations to resume without further anticipated delays.

The airport confirmed it has established a flexible coordination mechanism with airlines to manage operations effectively. However, an insider expressed frustration on social media regarding the lack of immediate passenger notifications in Macau, which led to considerable confusion at the airport and difficulties in providing timely information about the delay situation.