A significant technical issue affecting the Airbus A320 family of aircraft is causing widespread flight disruptions in India. Strong sun glare has been identified as a potential cause for corrupting critical data within the flight control system’s Elevator and Aileron Computer (ELAC) module. This flaw, officially acknowledged by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), could directly impact aircraft control. Airbus has classified this as a ‘very serious technical risk,’ leading to the largest fleet-wide recall in its 55-year history, potentially affecting up to 6,000 aircraft globally. In India, with over 560 A320 family planes in operation, an estimated 200 to 250 aircraft require immediate inspection and modification. Airlines like IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express are proactively addressing the mandate, with some flights already experiencing delays and cancellations. The mandatory fix involves grounding affected planes for software updates or hardware replacements, a process expected to continue causing ripple effects throughout the aviation sector. Passengers are advised to check their flight status due to these unavoidable disruptions.
