MANILA (DSC) — Airbus has ordered airlines worldwide to ground and repair thousands of A320-series aircraft after investigators traced a recent mid-air incident to a vulnerability in the jet’s flight-control systems linked to intense solar activity.

The directive affects about 6,000 A319, A320, and A321 aircraft, making it one of the largest recalls in the history of the A320 family. Aviation regulators in Europe, the United States, and Asia have instructed airlines not to fly affected planes with passengers until the required fixes are completed.

The action follows an October 30 incident involving a JetBlue A320 traveling from Cancún to Newark. The aircraft suddenly lost altitude, injuring more than a dozen passengers before making an emergency landing. Investigators later found that solar radiation may have corrupted data in the aircraft’s fly-by-wire system, which controls the elevators and ailerons.

Airbus said most aircraft will only need a two-hour software update to correct the issue, but several hundred older jets require hardware modifications that will take longer. The company apologized for the disruption and said it is working with airlines to accelerate repairs.

Carriers across Europe, Asia, and the Americas reported flight cancellations and delays as they began the grounding and inspection process. Some airlines expect limited disruptions, while others warned of possible schedule changes during the busy travel season.

The A320 family is among the most widely used commercial aircraft in the world, serving short- and medium-haul routes for dozens of major airlines.

Regulators said the issue underscores the growing impact of solar storms on modern aviation systems and the need for updated safeguards as solar activity intensifies in the coming years.

Airbus did not report any additional incidents related to the flaw. The company said it expects the majority of affected aircraft to return to service once software updates are completed.

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