Airbus A320 Malfunction: Software Update Completed on 189 of 338 Flights, Confirms DGCA

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed on November 29, 2025, that software updates to address a critical vulnerability in Airbus A320 family aircraft have been completed on 189 out of 338 affected planes operating in India, allowing the majority to resume commercial flights without major disruptions. The issue stems from a malfunction in specific "ELAC B L104" units of the Elevator and Aileron Computer (ELAC), which can cause uncommanded pitch-down events during autopilot operation due to data corruption from solar radiation exposure. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an emergency directive mandating immediate inspections and upgrades, impacting over 6,000 aircraft globally and prompting airlines worldwide to ground fleets temporarily for compliance.

In India, low-cost carrier IndiGo bore the brunt of the directive, with 200 of its A320neo and A321neo aircraft flagged for the faulty ELAC units. However, the airline swiftly completed updates on 143 planes, enabling seamless operations and avoiding any cancellations—a testament to its proactive maintenance strategy. Air India, undergoing fleet modernization, reported 113 affected aircraft, of which 42 have been rectified, also without resulting in flight cancellations. Air India Express, a subsidiary, faced impacts on 25 planes, with only four updated so far, leading to eight delays but no full groundings.

The DGCA's oversight ensured that updates prioritized high-utilization routes, minimizing ripple effects on India's bustling aviation sector during the peak post-Diwali travel season. Notifications from the carriers reached regulators early on November 29, allowing coordinated scheduling adjustments at major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. While global carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet have reported similar compliance challenges, India's rapid progress—over half of affected planes updated within hours—highlights robust local engineering support from Airbus India and airline maintenance teams.

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This incident underscores the aviation industry's vulnerability to environmental factors like intensified solar activity during the sun's 11-year cycle peak in 2025, which exacerbates avionics glitches in fly-by-wire systems. The ELAC upgrade, involving software patches or hardware swaps to the "ELAC B L103+" variant, aims to prevent potential structural stress from erratic flight commands. No safety incidents have been linked to the flaw in India, but the directive reinforces EASA's zero-tolerance for risks, with non-compliant operations barred from European airspace.

As remaining updates roll out over the weekend, the DGCA anticipates full resolution by early December, with minimal long-term fallout. IndiGo's flawless execution positions it as a model for crisis management, while Air India's measured approach aligns with its ongoing merger synergies. The episode serves as a wake-up call for accelerated R&D in radiation-hardened avionics, ensuring the A320 family's reliability amid rising air traffic volumes projected to double in India by 2030.

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