Airbus software problem could lead to flight disruptions over Thanksgiving holiday rush

Thousands of Airbus A320 aircraft worldwide may need an urgent software update, potentially leading to delays or cancellations during the busy Thanksgiving travel period. The update follows an incident on October 30, when a JetBlue flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, experienced flight control problems. Preliminary data from Flightradar24 showed the plane dropped roughly 100 feet in seven seconds and was redirected to Tampa, Florida.

Between 15 and 20 passengers sustained injuries and were treated at local hospitals, according to Tampa Fire Rescue spokesperson Vivian Shedd. Airbus determined that intense solar radiation could compromise data critical to flight control systems, prompting an emergency software update for the A320 aircraft, a widely used model among U.S. airlines.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an emergency directive on Friday, grounding Airbus A320 aircraft with specific hardware and software combinations. The order takes effect Saturday at 7 p.m. EST, essentially grounding planes pending the update. Aircraft may be flown up to three times without passengers to reach facilities for the required software installation.

Sources told CBS News that between 5,000 and 6,000 planes worldwide will need the update. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to issue a similar emergency order soon. Many major U.S. carriers operate the A320 family. Spirit and Frontier Airlines rely exclusively on this model, while Delta, United, and American Airlines maintain hundreds in their fleets. Delta operates approximately 315 A320 jets, United about 200, and American around 480.

United Airlines reported that its Airbus fleet is unaffected. Delta anticipates a limited impact, with fewer than 50 planes requiring updates. American Airlines stated that roughly 340 aircraft need the software revision, with work underway and completion expected by Saturday. "While some delays are expected, we are focused on minimizing cancellations, especially for holiday travelers returning home," the airline said.

Airlines for America, the industry trade group, predicts a record 31 million passengers will travel from last Friday, November 21, through Monday, making this Thanksgiving period the busiest in 15 years, according to the FAA.

Author: Sophia Brooks