A solar radiation–linked software flaw in Airbus A320 jets triggered urgent global fixes, causing possible delays but no safety risk for travelers.

Dozens of airlines from Asia to the United States said they had carried out a snap software retrofit ordered by Airbus, and mandated by global regulators, after a vulnerability to solar flares emerged in a recent mid-air incident on a JetBlue A320.

Europe's Airbus said on Friday it was ordering immediate repairs to 6,000 of its widely used A320 family of jets in a sweeping recall affecting more than half the global fleet, threatening upheaval during the busiest travel weekend of the year in the United States and disruption worldwide.

Airbus shares fell by the most in a single session in over a year after a report of an issue on several of its planes. Reuters, citing industry sources, reported an industrial-quality issue affecting fuselage panels of several dozen aircraft in the A320 family.

Airbus has almost returned all A320 jets to service after implementing urgent software fixes due to a solar radiation vulnerability. Under 100 remain grounded.

As of November 30, 2025, all A320 family aircraft in the Chinese civil aviation fleet that were required by aviation authorities and Airbus to undergo precautionary measures have completed the relevant work in accordance with the applicable airworthiness directives and Airbus technical documents,

One of the world’s largest airplane makers said Friday that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to flight controls on a “significant number” of its most popular aircraft, prompting a swift response from several airlines. Airbus attributed the revelation to a recent analysis involving its A320 family of aircraft.