https://viewfromthewing.com/airbus-a320s-could-be-temporarily-grounded-worldwide-for-software-update-after-faulty-jetblue-computer-triggered-sudden-uncommanded-descent/ [p] View from the Wing * About + Thank You! How to Support this Blog * Advice + Advice: Frequent Flyer + Advice: General Travel + Advice: Airlines and Airfare + Advice: Hotels + Advice: Credit Cards * Recommended Credit Card Offers * Top 10 Deals * Trip Reports + Trip Reports - Air + Trip Reports - Hotels + Trip Reports - Lounges + Trip Reports - Food + Trip Reports - Other * Advertiser Disclosure Airbus A320s Could Be Temporarily Grounded Worldwide for Software Update -- After Faulty JetBlue Computer Triggered Sudden Uncommanded Descent by Gary Leff on November 28, 2025 According to aviation insiders, there's a possible grounding of Airbus narrowbodies coming worldwide. Watchdog JonNYC was first to share this information. However I do not expect aircraft to be grounded for long, and I'd expect a staggering to minimize flight disruptions. also 100%++ unconfirmed "someone says AA Will be doing cxl package for A320 fleet ... but this will effect ALL a320 worldwide ",mandatory software update" -- JonNYC (@xJonNYC) November 28, 2025 All signs say this A320 issue is accurate, airworthiness directive from Airbus imminent Unconfirmed -- JonNYC (@xJonNYC) November 28, 2025 Jon suggests that the issue is an with an aileron computer. This was identified as the cause of a JetBlue A320 issue on October 30th where a Cancun to Newark flight "unexpectedly pitched downward without pilot input" and diverted to Tampa. The Thales ELAC 2 computer malfunctioned and was replaced. This interpets pilot commands to control the aircraft. 10-15 passengers were hospitalized after the aircraft rapidly descended without being instructed by pilots to do so. The uncontrolled descent "likely occurred during an ELAC switch change" according to the National Transportation Safety Board. This is not supposed to happen! If there's an issue with one ELAC computer, the other is supposed to take control without missing a beat. Presumably, then, what's being anticipated is a requirement related to these computers. * Each aircraft has two, supplied primarily by Thales. There's also a repair and overhaul ecosystem, not just new equipment production. * The U.S. FAA proposed an airworthiness directive in 2018 requiring all ELAC units on Airbus A320 family aircraft to be upgraded with new software or replaced with upgraded units due to angle of attack issues. * With about 10,000 A320-family aircraft in service (all variants and engine options), you can't just pull and replace every ELAC on the planet quickly. The FAA airworthiness directive used compliance windows and software load options. [IMG_3266_z] I'm fascinated to see how this plays out, because the suggestion is there will be an immediate flight cancellation package, while I'd expect it to be small. Normally you'd expect to see a software upgrade loaded onto existing boxes first, with staggered compliance (different deadlines by serial number, block or hours flown, often tied to C-check/D-check intervals). Meanwhile, Airbus, Thales and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul shops would ramp production and repair. That is, unless the issue that's been found is more significant than much of what we've seen in the past (on the scale of 737 MAX MCAS system which grounded that aircraft), I'd expect cancellations to be minor and phased. So I'll be watching to see exactly what happens here. JonNYC notes that tomorrow's flights with these aircraft do not currently show any cancellations. [frontier-a] And indeed, Jon now confirms that it's a software upgrade that's expected: I consider this fully confirmed at this point. ELAC , software update needed. Should take a couple hours for each plane, will take longer on some than others. Plan with FAA being worked on now. https://t.co /v8fEgne6wv -- JonNYC (@xJonNYC) November 28, 2025 Airbus, for its part, has issued a vaguely-worded statement that "intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls" and that they have: [W]orked proactively with the aviation authorities to request immediate precautionary action from operators via an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) in order to implement the available software and/or hardware protection, and ensure the fleet is safe to fly. ...Airbus acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers. [a321neo] Specific details of timing and flight cancellations will be forthcoming. More From View from the Wing 14 Comments << Previous Article Next Article >> [5271637b] About Gary Leff Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary >> More articles by Gary Leff >> Comments 1. [7fca9] Greggb57 says: November 28, 2025 at 11:41 am Perfect time of year for this. 2. [abb75] Captain Freedom says: November 28, 2025 at 12:26 pm Airbus needs to work on its communications: "in order (for airlines) to implement the available software protection" suggests that the critical update was unavailable before the serious incident. CYA on full display... 3. [58098] Boraxo says: November 28, 2025 at 12:41 pm Maybe the only time I'm happy my upcoming UA flights are on the 737-MAX and not airbus 4. [957aa] Gene says: November 28, 2025 at 12:44 pm Prepare to sleep on the floor at ATL. 5. [1e928] kindofblue says: November 28, 2025 at 12:52 pm Not clear what you mean, Captain Freedom. 6. [bad25] Tim Dunn says: November 28, 2025 at 1:18 pm Gene Airbus hasn't said what age is considered "older" and thus require the hardware rather than just software update but most of United's 319/320 fleet is over 10 years old and larger than DL's older fleet of those types. 7. [4e7f6] jns says: November 28, 2025 at 1:18 pm I wonder if those who swore off Boeing airplanes will now swear off Airbus ones. 8. [8c9e8] victor says: November 28, 2025 at 1:38 pm siitting on A321 getting ready to push back from DFW at 1:30 cst when the stop order hit...after 13 hours from NZ and 5 hours at DFW...grrrrr 9. [ec085] Eric says: November 28, 2025 at 1:43 pm I didn't see anything in the article saying this is effecting only older variants. It says ALL A320's. Presumably A320 Neo's are still A320's, so... but also, I'm just a stew, so there's that. Lol 10. [7372b] Denver Refugee says: November 28, 2025 at 1:47 pm So, Thales also also has a $9/hr H-1B contractor problem? 11. [10852] Pilot93434 says: November 28, 2025 at 2:06 pm Ailerons do not cause pitch issues. Ailerons are for roll control. 12. [b25a2] 1990 says: November 28, 2025 at 2:20 pm Reminds me of the abrupt cancellations with Delta's subsidiary Endeavor from earlier this year; relatively unexplained 'technical' issue for nearly their whole fleet of CRJs caused chaos for 1-2 days, around June 6-8, 2025. Had to rebook last minute on my own dime with American. Wild for AA to save the day. 13. [bad25] Tim Dunn says: November 28, 2025 at 3:15 pm Eric, 2/3 of the 320 family aircraft only need a software update; older aircraft will need hardware changes. 14. [b25a2] 1990 says: November 28, 2025 at 3:45 pm @Tim Dunn -- Speaking of hardware changes... when's Delta gonna finally retire those 717s? They're ~25 years old... if they were women, Leonardo DiCaprio wouldn't even date them. Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Comment * [ ] Name * [ ] Email * [ ] Website [ ] [ ] Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [ ] Notify me of new posts by email. [Post Comment] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] D[ ] * * * * Search Search for: [ ] [Search] Free Email Newsletter! 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Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary >> (c) Miles and Points Consulting LLC - All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Miles and Points Consulting LLC with appropriate and specific directions to the original content. Archives | Privacy Policy | RSS Quantcast