For most travelers, a delayed flight is just an inconvenience. But on Friday, many passengers around the world discovered that something far more unusual was unfolding. Thousands of Airbus aircraft — including some of the most widely used passenger planes on Earth — were suddenly grounded because of a surprising threat from above: intense solar radiation.

This wasn’t a routine technical glitch. It wasn’t a weather issue. And it wasn’t a cyberattack.
It was something far stranger — and far more unexpected.

A Stunning Discovery: Solar Radiation Can Disrupt Flight Computer Systems

The grounding came after Airbus uncovered a vulnerability in the flight control computers used on A320-family aircraft. Engineers found that powerful bursts of radiation from the Sun could, under rare conditions, corrupt the software responsible for calculating a plane’s elevation.

In simple terms: the Sun’s energy was capable of briefly confusing a plane’s onboard systems.

This revelation wasn’t speculative. It was triggered by a real incident.

The October Flight That Sparked an Investigation

Back in October, a JetBlue flight traveling between the U.S. and Mexico experienced a sudden and alarming loss of altitude. At least 15 people were injured before the crew managed to stabilize the aircraft and make an emergency landing in Florida.

That unexpected drop sent Airbus engineers digging for answers — and what they found was unsettling enough to ground around 6,000 A320 family planes, nearly half of the company’s global fleet.

Which Planes Are Affected?

The issue impacts the entire A320 family:

• A318
• A319
• A320
• A321

These are some of the most common passenger aircraft in the world — especially the A320, which airlines rely on for short and medium-haul routes.

A Quick Fix for Most… a Bigger Problem for Some

Airbus says around 5,100 planes can be repaired with a simple software update that takes roughly three hours. These planes are expected to return to service quickly.

But the remaining 900 aircraft are older models that require an actual computer replacement. These jets can only perform “ferry flights” — flying without passengers — until the hardware is swapped out.

How fast those planes return depends entirely on how quickly replacement systems can be delivered.

Airbus has apologized, acknowledging that the situation will cause disruptions.

Global Impact: How Airlines Are Responding

Despite the massive number of affected aircraft, the real-world impact varies widely by region.

United Kingdom

The UK’s aviation regulator warned that travelers should expect some delays and cancellations, but airports reported only mild disruptions so far.

• Gatwick: some delays
• Heathrow: no cancellations
• Manchester Airport: not expecting major issues

Europe

This is where the biggest disruptions have surfaced.

Public flight data shows Air France appears to be the hardest hit, with about 50 flights canceled in one morning alone at its Paris hub.

Low-cost carriers like Wizz Air have already begun updating their fleets, minimizing passenger impacts.

United States

The timing couldn’t be worse — the issue emerged during the busy Thanksgiving travel weekend.

• American Airlines: 340 planes affected, some delays expected
• Delta Air Lines: expects limited disruption
• JetBlue: already dealing with fallout from the October incident

Australia

Budget carrier Jetstar canceled 90 flights, with more cancellations expected throughout the weekend.

Aviation Experts: “This Is Extremely Rare”

Aviation analyst Sally Gethin described the situation as “very much out of the ordinary.”
But she emphasized that the actual impact on passengers depends on how quickly individual airlines upgrade their systems.

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority said mass grounding events like this are “very rare” — and also a sign that global aviation safety systems work.

The incident may be disruptive, but it’s happening because airlines and regulators take these risks seriously.

Why Solar Radiation Matters for Modern Planes

The A320 family uses fly-by-wire technology, meaning the pilot’s controls send electronic signals to the aircraft’s flight systems — rather than using mechanical cables.

This makes the aircraft lighter, more efficient, and easier to operate… but also more dependent on software.

High-energy solar radiation, released during certain solar events, can sometimes scramble this kind of digital data.

That’s what Airbus found affecting the altitude calculation software — and what triggered the October incident.

AESA Issues Emergency Order

Europe’s main aviation regulator issued an airworthiness directive requiring all aircraft to be fixed before carrying passengers again.
No updates, no passengers — that’s the rule.

A Reminder of Why Aviation Is So Safe

The situation may sound alarming, but experts stress that this level of caution is exactly what makes flying one of the safest forms of transportation.

The Transport Secretary said it was reassuring that the problem was caught early and being handled swiftly.

And Airbus has made it clear: safety comes first, even if the fix causes headaches for airlines.

What Travelers Should Expect Next

Most modern A320 family jets should return to service quickly thanks to the fast software solution.
Older models will take longer, depending on parts availability.

For passengers, that likely means:

• minor delays
• occasional cancellations
• some rerouted flights
• but overall, limited long-term disruption

Airlines are prioritizing fast updates to get planes back into rotation.

A Strange Story with a Simple Message

This unusual episode — where the Sun itself caused jetliners to be grounded — is a reminder of two things:

1. Aviation safety is constantly evolving
2. Airlines would rather delay flights than risk even the smallest chance of danger

While the situation caused stress for some travelers, it also shows how quickly safety teams react when something unexpected happens in the skies.