A320 software snag hits 338 planes; 56% updated in India

India is moving to patch 338 Airbus A320 family jets after a software issue raised concerns about control inputs during solar storms. IndiGo, Air India, and AI Express report that 189 of the affected jets had received the mandatory software and/or hardware protections by 10 am Saturday, about 56% of the fleet. The remaining aircraft are due to receive updates by 5:29 pm on Sunday, November 30.

IndiGo says 200 of its 338 aircraft are affected, with 143 updated by 10 am and updates taking place at Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. Air India's 113 jets affected, 42 updated by 10 am, with work at Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. AI Express has 25 aircraft affected, four updated by 10 am, with updates at Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai.

The DGCA issued a most urgent modification order for Indian A320 operators, aligning with an emergency directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The move follows a JetBlue A320 incident on Oct 30, 2025 near Cancun, where an unexpected descent reportedly occurred during automated controls. Regulators say the updates are aimed at preventing similar issues and maintaining flight safety.

Officials note that while the upgrades are underway, schedules could still be affected. AI Express reported eight flights delayed in the period cited, while IndiGo and Air India said there were no cancellations by 10 am. The process involves a mix of software patches and hardware protections to ensure the aircraft remain controllable under extreme conditions.

Looking ahead, airlines and regulators emphasize that the updates are essential for continued safe operations across the A320 family, with completion expected by Sunday evening and ongoing monitoring to confirm the fixes hold under adverse solar conditions.

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