Airbus A320 Malfunction Prompts Air India and IndiGo to Warn of Flight Disruptions
Airbus malfunction sparks worldwide delays, hits Air India and IndiGo hard.
A critical malfunction in the Elevator and Aileron Computer (ELAC) system of Airbus A320 family aircraft has triggered a sweeping safety directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), mandating urgent maintenance on over 6,000 planes worldwide and threatening to disrupt airline schedules on an unprecedented scale. The issue came to light following a harrowing October incident involving a JetBlue flight, where the plane suffered an uncommanded sudden drop in altitude, prompting immediate regulatory scrutiny and a global call to action.
Indian carriers Air India and IndiGo have been among the first to sound the alarm, warning passengers of impending delays and potential cancellations as they scramble to comply with the directive. Air India disclosed that a significant portion of its fleet requires immediate software and hardware realignments, which will extend aircraft turnaround times and ripple through departure schedules, particularly on high-density domestic and international routes. IndiGo echoed the concerns, prioritising safety above all while confirming that operational adjustments are underway to mitigate the fallout.
The directive's scope extends far beyond India, encompassing major operators across Europe, North America and Asia, where the A320 remains a workhorse for short- and medium-haul flights. Preliminary investigations into the ELAC fault have revealed potential risks to flight control integrity, necessitating hands-on inspections and upgrades that could sideline aircraft for hours or days, exacerbating existing supply chain pressures in the aviation sector and inflating operational costs for airlines already recovering from pandemic-era setbacks.
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Air India has urged travellers to monitor flight statuses via its website and app, apologising for inconveniences while assuring that customer safety remains paramount. IndiGo, operating one of the world's largest A320 fleets, has initiated proactive measures in coordination with aviation authorities, though specifics on the number of affected planes or precise delay timelines remain fluid as maintenance ramps up globally.
As Airbus and regulators race to resolve the technical glitch, the episode underscores the fragility of modern air travel's reliance on interconnected systems, with experts forecasting a short-term surge in delays that could strain passenger confidence and airport capacities worldwide until full compliance is achieved.
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