A global technical fault affecting the Airbus A320 fleet is significantly impacting flight schedules across India. The identified issue involves the potential for strong sunlight to corrupt critical data processed by the aircraft’s flight control computers (ELAC). This vulnerability has been deemed a ‘very serious technical risk’ by Airbus and has necessitated an urgent safety directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Worldwide, up to 6,000 A320 family aircraft are affected. Within India, an estimated 200 to 250 of the A320-series planes in operation will need to undergo inspections and necessary modifications. Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express are implementing the required fixes, which involve taking aircraft out of service temporarily. This measure is leading to delays and cancellations, with the airline industry anticipating ongoing disruptions. Travelers are advised to stay informed about potential changes to their flight itineraries.
