Airbus A320s Could Be Temporarily Grounded Worldwide for Software Update — After Faulty JetBlue Computer Triggered Sudden Uncommanded Descent
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.
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.
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.
Specific details of timing and flight cancellations will be forthcoming.
More From View from the Wing
