Safety first! Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury apologises amid massive A320 flight disruption

In a post on his LinkedIn profile, Faury emphasised that passenger safety remains Airbus’s top priority.

He wrote: "The fix required on some #A320 aircraft has been causing significant logistical challenges and delays since yesterday. I want to sincerely apologise to our airline customers and passengers who are impacted now. But we consider that nothing is more important than safety when people fly on one of our Airbus Aircraft — like millions do every day.

"Our teams are working around the clock to support our operators and ensure these updates are deployed as swiftly as possible to get planes back in the sky and resume normal operations, with the safety assurance you expect from #Airbus."

What Happened?

Airbus issued a recall or safety alert for many A320‑family aircraft after discovering that intense solar radiation can corrupt data in the plane’s flight‑control system — specifically the software/hardware (ELAC) controlling elevators and ailerons.

The problem emerged after an incident on October 30, when a JetBlue A320 experienced an uncommanded drop in altitude (“pitch‑down”) mid‑air, forcing an emergency landing and injuring some passengers. Airbus determined that roughly 6,000 A320 aircraft worldwide could be affected.

Passenger Impact

• The recall, one of the largest in Airbus’s 55‑year history, has led to cancellations and delays on many routes globally, particularly during peak travel periods.
• In India, airlines like IndiGo and Air India noted that over 350 A320‑family aircraft could be impacted. Many updates have already been completed, and authorities say the disruption is “manageable.”

What It Means for Travellers

• Passengers booked on affected A320 flights may face delays or cancellations and are advised to check flight status and rebook if needed.
• The fix is considered urgent and mandatory, and no aircraft should operate without it.
• While the disruption is significant, Airbus has stressed that ongoing flights are not in immediate danger; the recall is a precautionary measure rather than a response to repeated crashes.