Airbus has announced an immediate software update for a “significant number” of A320 family aircraft, potentially affecting half of the global fleet.
“Airbus acknowledges that these recommendations will cause operational disruptions to passengers and customers,” the company stated.
The decision follows an incident on a JetBlue flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, where several passengers were injured due to a sudden loss of altitude on October 30.
It was found that intense solar radiation can corrupt critical data for the flight control systems.
Portugal’s national airlines TAP Air Portugal and Azores Airlines use A320 family aircraft. TAP operates models such as the A320-200 and the A320neo, while Azores Airlines operates an A320neo.
Approximately 11,300 A320 family aircraft are in operation, including 6,440 of the main A320 model, which first flew in 1987.
[Updated at 19:54]
