Airbus A320 Flight Control Issue Affects Over 200 Indian Aircraft: IndiGo, Air India Operations Disrupted

According to sources, more than 200 aircraft will be impacted in the country.

New Delhi:

IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express flight operations will experience disruptions as they address a potential issue related to flight controls in their A320 family planes. Sources indicate that 200-250 aircraft in the country will be affected.

Airbus announced on Friday that intense solar radiation might corrupt data critical to flight controls in a significant number of A320 family aircraft. The software changes required to resolve this issue will lead to operational disruptions. Globally, approximately 6,000 operational A320 aircraft may require upgrades.

With many narrow-body A320 family planes of domestic carriers needing software changes or hardware realignment, operational disruptions are expected as the aircraft must be grounded, according to sources.

Indian operators have approximately 560 A320 family aircraft, with 200-250 of them requiring software changes or hardware realignment.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) stated that Airbus has requested airline operators to install a serviceable Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC) in the affected aircraft.

ELAC is generally responsible for flight controls.

EASA has mandated that the issue be addressed before the next flight of any impacted aircraft by replacing or modifying the affected ELAC.

On Saturday, IndiGo, the country's largest airline, acknowledged awareness of the notification issued by Airbus regarding A320 family planes.

"We are working closely with Airbus to ensure implementation as per Airbus notification. While we carry out the necessary inspections, we are making every effort to minimize disruptions," the airline said in a statement.

Safety comes first. Always. 💙✈Airbus has issued a technical advisory for the global A320 fleet. We are proactively completing the mandated updates on our aircraft with full diligence and care, in line with all safety protocols. While we work through these precautionary…

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) November 28, 2025

Air India Express stated, "We have initiated immediate precautionary action in response to an alert requiring a software fix on the Airbus A320 fleet. While a majority of our aircraft are not impacted, the guidance applies to operators worldwide and may result in adjustments to flight operations, including potential delays or cancellations." A source revealed that 31 A320 family planes of Air India Express will be affected.

Please visit https://t.co/SqGk3gEKqm to check your flight status, or #ChatWithTia on WhatsApp at +91 65600 12345. pic.twitter.com/5SNXKwZjES

— Air India Express (@AirIndiaX) November 28, 2025

Air India posted on X that it is aware of an Airbus directive related to its A320 family aircraft currently in-service across airline operators.

"This will result in a software/hardware realignment on a part of our fleet, leading to longer turnaround time and delays to our scheduled operations.

"Air India regrets any inconvenience this may cause to passengers till the reset is carried out across the fleet," the airline said.

#ImportantAdvisoryWe are aware of a directive from Airbus related to its A320 family aircraft currently in-service across airline operators. This will result in a software/hardware realignment on a part of our fleet, leading to longer turnaround time and delays to our…

— Air India (@airindia) November 28, 2025

None of the three airlines disclosed the exact number of aircraft affected.

The A320 family aircraft includes A319s, A320 ceos and neos, A321 ceos and neos.

In an Emergency Airworthiness Directive, EASA stated that Airbus has requested airline operators to install a serviceable ELAC in the impacted aircraft.

Airbus revealed that analysis of a recent event involving an A320 family aircraft showed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls.

"Airbus has consequently identified a significant number of A320 family aircraft currently in-service which may be impacted," it said in a release.

Airbus acknowledged these recommendations will cause operational disruptions to passengers and customers. "We apologize for the inconvenience caused and will work closely with operators, while keeping safety as our number one and overriding priority." The aircraft manufacturer stated it has worked proactively with aviation authorities to request immediate precautionary action from operators via an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) to implement available software and/or hardware protection and ensure the fleet is safe to fly.

According to EASA, an Airbus A320 airplane recently experienced an uncommanded and limited pitch down event.

"The autopilot remained engaged throughout the event, with a brief and limited loss of altitude, and the rest of the flight was uneventful.

"Preliminary technical assessment done by Airbus identified a malfunction of the affected ELAC as possible contributing factor," EASA stated.

This condition, if not corrected, could lead in the worst-case scenario to an uncommanded elevator movement that may result in exceeding the aircraft's structural capability, according to EASA.

It added that to address the potential unsafe condition, a serviceable ELAC must be installed in the impacted planes.