Airbus has temporarily grounded thousands of aircraft worldwide after engineers uncovered a vulnerability showing that intense solar radiation could disrupt critical flight-control systems. The issue was identified during an investigation into a recent mid-air incident in which an Airbus jet experienced an unexpected altitude drop linked to corrupted control data.
According to internal assessments, high levels of solar activity can interfere with the aircraft’s digital “fly-by-wire” computers, potentially causing sudden and incorrect commands to the elevators or ailerons. While no major accidents have been reported, Airbus and aviation regulators called for an immediate pause on operations to prevent any risk during passenger flights.
Most aircraft will receive a software patch that takes only a few hours to install, allowing them to return to service quickly. However, older jets may require hardware replacements, leading to longer delays for some airlines. The grounding has already caused significant disruptions across global flight schedules as carriers work to update their fleets.
Airbus emphasized that the decision was made out of “an abundance of caution,” highlighting the increasing challenges modern aircraft face from space weather and solar radiation in high-altitude environments. Aviation authorities are expected to release updated safety guidance as investigations continue.
