A320

Airbus is undertaking an investigation into a newly identified industrial quality issue affecting fuselage panels on several dozen A320-family aircraft, according to multiple industry sources briefed on the matter. The suspected production flaw has begun to delay certain near-term deliveries, though preliminary indications suggest no aircraft currently operating with airlines have been impacted by the defect. The exact origin and full scope of the manufacturing issue remain under review by Airbus engineers and quality assurance teams. One source familiar with the matter indicated the problem concerns manufacturing tolerances detected during standard production checks, leading the company to initiate additional inspections across a batch of A320neo-family airframes. Airbus has declined to comment publicly on the investigation at this time.

Airbus Reports Near-Completion of A320 Precautionary Fleet Updates Following Flight-Control Vulnerability Airbus has announced substantial progress in implementing precautionary software and system up...

Most of the world’s Airbus A320 Family aircraft have returned to passenger service following rapid completion of critical software updates mandated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The agency issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive on November 28, 2025, requiring operators worldwide to address a vulnerability affecting specific flight-control computers before resuming normal operations. The directive targeted Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC B L104) units installed on A320 Family aircraft, which Airbus identified as potentially vulnerable to data corruption when exposed to solar radiation. The manufacturer’s Alert Operators Transmission detailed two compliance pathways: uploading the updated L103+ software standard or physically replacing affected ELAC units with serviceable equipment.

Airbus has issued a significant safety advisory affecting operators of A320 Family aircraft worldwide, warning of potential flight-control data corruption linked to solar radiation exposure. The European aircraft manufacturer disclosed that intense solar activity may, in rare circumstances, corrupt data essential to flight-control functions, affecting a substantial portion of the global A320 fleet. The alert follows Airbus’s investigation into a recent operational event involving an A320 Family aircraft, during which solar activity was identified as a possible trigger for data corruption within the aircraft’s flight-control systems. Notably, the incident resulted in no loss of control or passenger injuries, but prompted comprehensive analysis and industry coordination.