(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Passengers travelling to and from the UAE could face flight delays this weekend after Airbus ordered urgent safety checks on 6,000 A320-family aircraft worldwid e, following a flight-control issue linked to solar radiation.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive covering approximately 6,000 Airbus A319, A320, and A321 jets fitted with a specific version of the Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC). Airbus says that, in rare periods of intense solar activity, radiation can corrupt data in the flight-control system, potentially triggering a brief, uncommanded nose-down movement while the autopilot is engaged.

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The directive follows an October 30 incident in which a JetBlue A320 flying from Cancun to Newark suddenly pitched down and diverted to Tampa, injuring 15 passengers. Investigators found that solar radiation had corrupted data in the aircraft's ELAC unit, prompting the global safety alert.

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EASA now requires airlines to install a“serviceable” ELAC unit before an affected aircraft operates its next flight. This can involve reverting to an earlier certified software load or replacing the hardware with upgraded, radiation-hardened units. Aircraft that are not modified by the deadline on November 29 (03.59 UAE time on November 30) cannot carry passengers until the work is completed, though empty“ferry flights” to maintenance bases are permitted.

Airbus and multiple airlines say the fix generally takes a few hours per aircraft and is being carried out around the clock across global fleets.

Impact on UAE routes

Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC) may see some disruption over the National Day long weekend and the start of winter school holidays as carriers reshuffle aircraft and adjust schedules.

The India–UAE corridor, one of DXB's busiest, is particularly exposed. Indian carriers operate a large A320-family fleet, and industry estimates suggest 200–250 aircraft in India require immediate software or hardware action out of roughly 560 A320-family jets.

What airlines are saying

IndiGo, which operates multiple daily flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, has warned passengers of possible schedule changes. In a post on X, the airline said it was completing the mandated updates“with full diligence and care,” adding that some flights“may see slight schedule changes.”

Air India has also confirmed that part of its A320 fleet is affected. In a recent update on Saturday, the carrier said it has completed over 40 per cent of its aircraft impacted by the issue, adding that it was confident of covering the entire fleet within the timeline prescribed by EASA. However, it clarified that there have been no cancellations and its schedule integrity across netwok has not been impacted. "Some of our flights may be slightly delayed or rescheduled," it said.

Air India Express, which runs several daily flights to Sharjah and Dubai, said it had taken“immediate precautionary action” and that the fix may lead to delays or cancellations, though most of its fleet is unaffected. Passengers have been advised to check flight status on the airline's website or contact its WhatsApp assistant on +91 65600 12345.

What passengers can do

1. Check flight status before leaving home via:

• airports

• your airline's website or app

• official WhatsApp/chat channels

2. Arrive at least three hours before departure.

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