Post by : Rameen Ariff

A large number of Airbus A320-family aircraft operated by major Indian airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, were brought under immediate checks after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a critical emergency airworthiness directive. The move came after a recent midair incident raised serious concerns over the safety of a key flight control system used in thousands of Airbus aircraft worldwide.

According to aviation sources, both Air India and IndiGo began urgent inspections soon after receiving the alert. The airlines assured that the mandatory updates would be completed by the end of the day and that passengers would not face major disruptions. Officials added that any delays caused by the checks would not exceed 30 minutes.

The EASA directive temporarily grounds nearly 6,000 Airbus A320-family aircraft across the globe until an essential fix is carried out. These include the A318, A319, A320, and A321 series, all commonly used for domestic and international operations.

India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), issued its own notice marked “most urgent,” directing airlines to inspect and replace a component technically known as “ATA 27,” which is linked to flight controls and the elevator aileron computer.

Air India said its engineering teams have been working continuously to complete the reset on affected aircraft. The airline confirmed that over 40 percent of the fleet had already undergone the required update and expressed confidence in meeting the EASA deadline. It also clarified that no flights had been cancelled due to the safety task.

IndiGo, the largest operator of A320-family aircraft in India, announced that it had already completed the mandatory update on 160 out of 200 aircraft. The airline stated that the remaining fleet would also be compliant within the stipulated timeline, ensuring safe and reliable operations for passengers.

What Triggered the Global Alert

The urgent directive followed an alarming incident last month on a flight from Cancun to Newark. An Airbus A320 cruising at 35,000 feet suddenly pitched nose-down without any pilot command, causing a sharp drop in altitude. Although the aircraft diverted safely to Tampa, the situation highlighted a serious risk.

Investigators traced the issue to a fault in the elevator aileron computer (ELAC), an essential system that converts pilot inputs into movements of the aircraft’s wings and tail. Airbus discovered that intense solar radiation could corrupt data in the ELAC’s newly updated software, leading to the possibility of uncommanded manoeuvres and excessive structural stress.

Airbus instructed that any aircraft equipped with the older ELAC model must install the upgraded, safer version known as ELAC L103 Plus before operating their next commercial flight. Only a short repositioning flight, without passengers, is permitted to move the aircraft to a maintenance base.

The incident has drawn widespread attention across the aviation sector, with safety agencies and airlines treating the matter as a top priority. Both Indian carriers affected by the directive have assured travellers that their fleets remain safe and fully operational, with the required updates progressing rapidly.

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