Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 29: Flight operations of major airlines, including IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express, are likely to face disruptions as Airbus has flagged a potential flight-control issue in its A320 family aircraft. The alert comes weeks after an incident involving a JetBlue-operated A320, where a sudden altitude drop injured 15 passengers, forcing an emergency landing in Florida.

Airbus SE has now warned that more than half of its active global A320 fleet will need an urgent software upgrade. India operates around 560 A320 family aircraft, and over 200 of them require software fixes or hardware realignment, according to sources.

The A320 family includes A319s, A320 ceos and neos, and A321 ceos and neos. Many of these aircraft will have to be grounded temporarily during the upgrade, causing operational disruptions.

IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, confirmed that it was working with Airbus to ensure timely implementation. “We are making every effort to minimise disruptions while we carry out the required inspections,” the airline said.

Air India Express said it had initiated precautionary action following the Airbus alert. “While most of our aircraft are not impacted, the guidance applies worldwide and may lead to delays or cancellations,” the airline stated.

Air India also warned passengers about longer turnaround times as part of its fleet undergoes software or hardware realignment.

In its statement, Airbus said that over 6,500 jets globally may need the software update, adding that the fix is mandatory before an aircraft’s next regular flight. The manufacturer said the issue may be linked to intense solar radiation potentially corrupting flight-control data.

The A320 family is one of the world’s most widely used aircraft series, competing directly with Boeing’s 737 lineup. Airlines across the globe are now preparing for possible schedule disruptions until the necessary upgrades are completed.