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Over 350 Airbus A320-family aircraft operated by IndiGo and Air India in India will be grounded for up to 23 days for a mandatory global software and hardware upgrade after a serious JetBlue A320 incident. With nearly 6,000 aircraft affected worldwide, airlines have issued travel advisories warning passengers of delays and schedule disruptions.
350 A320 Aircraft Grounded: Global Flight Disruptions Expected
New Delhi: The Airbus A320 family, one of the world's best-selling single-aisle aircraft, is undergoing a massive grounding starting this weekend. Over 350 A320 aircraft belonging to Indigo and Air India Group in India will be affected for the next 23 days. Airlines have already warned passengers that flight operations may experience delays and schedule changes during this period. This software/hardware upgrade is being carried out in compliance with strict mandatory guidelines issued by Airbus.
This mandatory upgrade was implemented following a serious technical incident on a JetBlue Cancun-Newark flight on October 30, 2025. According to the investigating agency, the NTSB, the A320 aircraft suddenly pitched downward during flight without pilot input, causing the aircraft to experience an "uncontrolled pitch-down." The malfunction occurred during a switch change on the ELAC flight control computer. The plane had to be diverted to Tampa due to an emergency, and some passengers were hospitalized.
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Following this incident, Airbus issued a mandatory software and hardware update for the entire A320 family a fleet of approximately 6,000 aircraft worldwide. This aims to address potential vulnerabilities in the aircraft's flight control systems and further strengthen safety.
In an official press note, Air India stated that, following Airbus's directive, extensive software and hardware realignment is being carried out across its A320 fleet. This could increase turnaround times and potentially delay several flights.
Air India has urged passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport. The company apologized for the inconvenience and stated that this step was necessary to ensure complete passenger safety.
India's largest airline, IndiGo, has also announced that it is complying with the technical advisory issued by Airbus. According to the company, the update procedures are being carried out in full compliance with safety protocols. Minor changes to the schedules of some flights are possible during this period. IndiGo has advised passengers to check the latest flight status on their app or website before embarking on their journey.
For the next 23 days, passengers traveling by air in India may experience frequent delays, schedule changes, and possible flight cancellations. Since the A320 is the most widely used aircraft series for domestic flights in India, this upgrade is having the greatest impact on Indian flights.
In addition, international flights will also be affected due to the approximately 6,000 A320 aircraft worldwide undergoing the update process. Aviation regulatory bodies have clarified that this step is mandatory for safety reasons and operations will return to normal once the upgrade is complete.
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While the global grounding of the A320 family will cause inconvenience to passengers, this step is crucial to further strengthening aviation safety. Airlines expect most of the fleet to return to normal flight operations by next Monday or Tuesday. Passengers are advised to remain vigilant and check their flight status before every trip.
